GRAMBLING, La. | McKenzie Johnson combined to go 6-for-8 at the plate with three runs batted in and three runs scored as the Grambling State University softball team completed a two-game Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) sweep of Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday afternoon, 11-2 in five innings and 5-4, at the GSU Softball Complex.
 
Grambling State (16-18 overall, 4-10 SWAC), which is just two wins shy of the most victories since 2008, got a dominating pitching performance by D'Maria Matthews in the opener with a one-hitter and rallied with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to complete the doubleheader sweep.
 
How It Happened – Game 1
Arkansas-Pine Bluff picked one run in the top of the first inning to stake an early 1-0 lead.
 
Grambling State responded with three runs on a pair of hits and took advantage of one error to grab a 3-1 lead.
 
Johnson singled to center to begin the frame and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Morgan Adams. Tia Coleman walked to put walked to put runners on the corners. Both runners moved up with Johnson scoring on a passed ball. Tayler Lenz-Selvera singled to right to plate Coleman and Antiya Randle reached on an error. Randle was caught stealing as Lenz-Selvera scored to give GSU the 3-1 lead.
 
The Lady Tigers added to the advantage with a pair of runs in the second.
 
Tyra Triplett walked and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Andreana Reynolds. Kenyshae Beasley singled to left and stole second as Triplett scored on the stolen base. Johnson reached on an infield hit and Beasley scored on a stolen base as Grambling State extended the lead to 5-1.
 
GSU got a three-run homer by Lenz-Selvera in the fourth inning and won the game with three runs in the fifth.
 
With two down in the frame, Anaiyah Fultz reached on an error and Beasley got on base on a bunt single. Johnson homered to right to bring in all three runs and end the game with an 11-2 victory.
 
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State finished with 11 runs on eight hits, committed a pair of errors and left three on base
> McKenzie Johnson went 3-for-4, with two runs batted in and two runs scored to lead the GSU offense
> Tayler Lenz-Selvera and Kenyshae Beasley each collected two hits
> D'Maria Matthews (10-9) picked up the win in five innings of work. She gave up two runs (one earned) on just one hit, fanned three and walked three
> Arkansas-Pine Bluff finished with two runs on one hit, committed two errors and stranded four on base
> Faith Santa Cruz registered the lone hit for the Lady Lions
> Karia Hall (2-9) took the loss as she was tagged for 11 runs (seven earned) on eight hits, with four walks and a pair of strikeouts in 4.2 innings
 
How It Happened – Game 2
Arkansas-Pine Bluff plated two runs in the top of the first inning, one in the third and one more in the fourth to grab a 4-0 lead.
 
However, Grambling State cut the margin to 4-3 with three runs in the sixth.
 
Johnson singled to left and Edwenia Foster was hit by a pitch to begin the inning. Rikkelle Miller followed with a towering three-run homer to left to cut the Lady Lions advantage to 4-3.
 
That set the stage for the Lady Tigers to complete the comeback in the seventh.
 
Tyra Triplett reached on an error to begin the frame and advanced to second when Kenyshae Beasley walked. Johnson followed with an RBI double to center as Triplett scored the tying run. Foster reached on a fielder's choice as Beasley came across to score the walk-off run and give Grambling State the 5-4 victory.
 
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State finished with five runs on eight hits, committed two errors and stranded six on base
> McKenzie Johnson paced the Lady Tiger offense by going 3-for-4, with one run scored and one RBI
> Rikkelle Miller went 2-for-3, with three RBIs and one run scored, while Tyra Triplett went 2-for-3, with one run scored
> Ja'Lynn Bonner started and worked two innings. She gave up two runs on three hits, walked one and struck out one
> Kenyshae Beasley (2-4) earned the win in relief as she surrendered two runs on five hits, walked a pair and fanned one in five innings
> Arkansas-Pine Bluff finished with four runs on eight hits, committed one error and left six on base
> Shanice Akins and Karia Hall each recorded three hits
> Juliana Dominguez (2-15) took the loss in six innings of work. She was tagged for five runs (four earned) on eight hits, with one strikeout and one walk
 
Up Next
Grambling State is set to conclude its three-game SWAC series with Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
 
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