BATON ROUGE, La. | The Grambling State University softball team split Saturday's doubleheader to rival Southern, losing 11-4, but taking the rubber game, 5-2, to earn its first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series win since 2015.
Grambling State (14-14 overall, 2-7 SWAC) won Friday's contest, 3-1, but dropped the opening game of the doubleheader to Southern. However, the Lady Tigers picked up the Game 2 victory for the series win. The last time Grambling State won a SWAC series was in 2015 when the Lady Tigers swept Arkansas-Pine Bluff (April 19-20).
How It Happened – Game 1
Southern raced out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning, but Grambling State cut the deficit in half with three runs in the second.
With two down in the frame,
Kenyshae Beasley singled through the left side and stole second.
McKenzie Johnson walked and
Morgan Adams singled as Beasley and Johnson scored.
Rikkelle Miller followed with a base hit to center to score Adams.
However, the Jaguars scored one run in the second, two in the third and added two more in the fifth in defeating the Lady Tigers, 11-4.
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State finished with four runs on eight hits, committed one error and left seven on base
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Rikkelle Miller paced the Lady Tigers offense by going 3-for-4, with one RBI
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Morgan Adams collected two hits and scored on run
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McKenzie Johnson,
Anaiyah Fultz and
Kenyshae Beasley each recorded one hit
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Ja'Lynn Bonner (3-4) took the loss as she was tagged for nine runs on 12 hits, walked three and struck out two in 3.0 innings
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D'Maria Matthews pitched 3.0 innings in relief and gave up two runs on four hits, with three walks
> Southern finished with 11 runs on 16 hits and stranded nine on base
> Jaslyn Perrodin and Aubrion James led the way at the plate with three hits each
> Tiara Scott (2-7) earned the complete-game victory. She gave up four runs on eight hits, fanned nine and walked two
How It Happened – Game 2
Grambling State and Southern plated one run each in the third inning, but the Lady Tigers grabbed the lead for good with a pair of runs in the fifth.
With two down in the frame,
Rikkelle Miller singled through the right side and was lifted for pinch runner
Asli Strozier. After Strozier stole second,
Tia Coleman homered to left to give Grambling State a 3-1 lead.
The Jaguars cut the deficit to 3-2 with a run in the bottom of the inning, but that would be as close as Southern would get.
The Lady Tigers plated two runs on three hits in the sixth to extend the lead to 5-2.
Tyler Robinson led off the frame with a homer to left and with two down, Johnson singled up the middle.
Morgan Adams followed with a base hit as Johnson scored.
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State finished with five runs on 10 hits, committed three errors and left eight on base
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Tia Coleman led the Lady Tigers at the plate by going 2-for-4, with three RBIs and one run scored
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Tyler Robinson went 2-for-4, with a run and one RBI, while
Rikkelle Miller went 2-for-4, with one run scored
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McKenzie Johnson,
Morgan Adams,
Tayler Lenz-Selvera and
Antiya Randle each collected one hit
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Kenyshae Beasley (1-3) earned her first victory. She gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits, walked two and fanned two in seven innings
> Southern finished with two runs on four hits, committed a pair of errors and stranded four on base
Up Next
Grambling State returns to action in a non-conference single game on Wednesday against Louisiana Tech. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the GSU Softball Complex.
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