By: Habtom Keleta-Asst. AD for Media Relations
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 GRAMBLING, La. | Grambling came out the gates and defeated Mississippi Valley 11-1 in game two of the weekend series and 5-1 in the Rubber Match (game three) in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. Freshman redshirt pitcher
Payton Shells pitched all afternoon and earned both wins in Saturday's doubleheader. Grambling's weekend series victory over the Delta Devillettes was the first since the year 2015.
"I am so proud of my team," said head coach Nakeya Hall. "The resiliency it took to beat that caliber of team is always an accomplishment. As for
Payton Shells, she had an amazing day in the circle for us. What she did today took nothing but heart."
Game 1
Grambling 2 Mississippi Valley 10 (5 innings)
Grambling led 2-1 early in the contest before giving up two runs in the third and an additional six runs in the fourth as they fell 10-2 to Mississippi Valley in game one of the weekend series at the Ruston Sports Complex in Southwestern Athletic Conference action.
Tyra Triplett and
Kaylee Nettles capitalized on early errors by Mississippi Valley and managed Grambling's only runs of the game in the first two innings.
Anaiyah Fultz and
Kelsey Patterson generated an RBI each for Grambling, who as a team struggled offensively and managed just four hits in the game.
Lady Tigers (4-8 overall, 1-2 SWAC) starting pitcher
Ja'Lynn Bonner (1-4) pitched a total of three innings and allowed three earned runs while striking out one Delta Devillette batter.
Dacia Richard came in relief for a brief moment and was replaced after allowing two runs.
DH
Sherrell Matthews took over the mound for the remainder of the contest and allowed three earned runs in two innings of work.
Game 2
Grambling 11 Mississippi Valley 1 (5 innings)
Grambling (5-8 overall, 2-2 SWAC) pitcher
Payton Shells (2-1) pitched a complete game and struck out two Mississippi Valley batters while allowing six hits and zero earned runs all game.
Redshirt junior
Cameron Ellis produced a team-high three runs and added two hits while teammates
Dacia Richard and
Asli Strozier both generated two runs apiece for the Lady Tigers.
Strozier tied a game-high with 2-RBI while fellow Lady Tigers
Janecia King and
Antiya Randle both produced 2-RBI apiece for Grambling.
Game 3
Grambling 5 Mississippi Valley 1 (7 innings)
Shells (3-1) pitched her second complete game in just hours, this time striking out five Delta Devillette batters in seven innings of work while allowing seven hits and just one earned run in the rubber match (series tiebreaker).
"I believed in that old saying, 'if it's not broke, then don't fix it," said Hall. "We played a great game with the line up in game one of the doubleheader on Saturday, so I played the exact same lineup in game two. Plus, Shells' pitch count was so low and she had a look in her eye that made me believe she could do it."
On the offensive end, the Lady Tigers (6-8 overall, 3-2 SWAC) poured in three runs in the opening inning and never looked back as Ellis and redshirt freshman
Kaylee Nettles both tied a game-high with three hits apiece for GSU. Nettles also finished with a game-high 2-RBI in the victory.
Up Next
Grambling State will host the University of Louisiana at Monroe in non-conference action on Tuesday, April 6. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at the GSU Softball Complex.
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