Box Score GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State Lady Tigers softball team avenged losses in games one and two by scoring four unanswered runs en route to a 4-3 thrilling victory in walk-off fashion over the Southern Lady Jaguars in game three of the Southwestern Athletic Conference series at the GSU Softball Complex.

Here's how the SWAC series played out in Grambling:


Game 1
Grambling    2    Southern    5

After having its original weekend series postponed, the Lady Tigers softball team had its 2-game win streak snapped in a 5-2 loss in game one against Southern in Southwestern Athletic Conference action at the GSU Softball Complex.

Grambling (6-9 overall, 3-3 SWAC) entered the contest a perfect 3-0 at its home field and took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when junior Morgan Adams scored the first run of the game. In the second inning, redshirt sophomore Kayla Robinson produced an RBI-single for GSU that brought home fellow redshirt sophomore Antiya Randle to give the Lady Tigers a 2-0 advantage. Randle finished the day a perfect 3-of-3 from the plate (game-high) with a run scored.

Grambling (6-9 overall, 3-3 SWAC) entered the contest a perfect 3-0 at its home field and took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when junior Morgan Adams scored the first run of the game. In the second inning, redshirt sophomore Kayla Robinson produced an RBI-single for GSU that brought home fellow redshirt sophomore Antiya Randle to give the Lady Tigers a 2-0 advantage. Randle finished the day a perfect 3-of-3 from the plate (game-high) with a run scored.

GSU redshirt junior pitcher Ja'Lynn Bonner (1-5) allowed 10 hits and five earned runs while striking out two Lady Jaguars in seven innings pitched.

On offense, the Lady Tigers generated seven hits and had chances to cut the deficit, but couldn't capitalize as it left a total of six batters stranded on base.

Lady Jags pitcher Kaytlin Donaldson (4-6) was credited with the victory as she fanned seven Lady Tigers batters in seven innings of work.


Game 2
Grambling    4    Southern    6

The Lady Tigers (6-10 overall, 3-4 SWAC) gave up a run in the first two innings and trailed 2-0 before turning things around in in the third inning. Redshirt sophomore Asli Strozier laid down a perfect RBI-bunt double that scored Cameron Ellis for Grambling's first run of the game.

After the Lady Jaguars countered with another run in the fourth, Grambling responded with two runs in the bottom stanza when Wells connected on a 2-RBI double to left field that once again brought home Ellis as well as freshman pitcher Dacia Richard to tie the game at 3-3.

Ellis finished 2-for-3 from the plate and generated two runs, both team-highs.

On the mound, GSU freshman pitcher Richard (0-2) allowed two earned runs and seven hits in 4.0 innings of work, striking out one Southern batter. Fellow Lady Tiger freshman pitcher Janecia King came in for relief in the fifth inning and gave up one earned run and six hits in 3.0 innings for GSU.


Game 3
Grambling    4    Southern    3  (9 innings)

GSU redshirt freshman pitcher Payton Shells (4-2) earned her fourth win of the season in dramatic fashion in extra innings.

The Lady Tigers trailed 3-0 in the third inning, but quickly responded to adversity with a run in the fourth inning via a double steal when pinch hitter Rodjahnae Dupont-Barlow baited the Lady Jags defense by advancing to second, allowing the speedster India Wells to steal home, cutting the deficit to 3-1.

Grambling added two additional runs in the fifth inning when redshirt freshman catcher Nyah Jones produced a 2-RBI double that scored teammates Kaylee Nettles and Anaiyah Fultz, bringing the score to 3-3.

After two straight scoreless innings for both sides, Grambling (7-10 overall, 4-4 SWAC) had its best chance to end the game in extra innings with the bases loaded in the eighth inning. During the next at-bat, redshirt sophomore Antiya Randle hit a ground ball to shortstop and reached first base on a fielder's choice, but the game-winning run, Wells, was thrown out at home.

With two outs and the bases still loaded, redshirt junior outfielder Morgan Adams grounded out to second base, ending the threat and leaving three Grambling batters stranded.

After another scoreless inning from Southern, "Coco" Fultz connected beautifully for a double as she sent the ball to left field. Then, fellow Lady Tiger Nettles executed a crucial sacrifice bunt which advanced Fultz to third base. On the next at-bat, redshirt freshman Tytianna Robinson calmly stepped to the plate and generated a walk-off RBI with a grounder to the outfield, giving the Lady Tigers the victory in extra innings as Fultz scored the game-winning run.

Fultz finished 4-for-5 at the plate and scored a total of two runs, both good for game-highs while teammate Jones added a game-high 2-RBI for the Lady Tigers, who as a team finished with a total of 12 runners left on base.

Lady Jaguars pitcher Kaytlin Donaldson (4-7) picked up her seventh loss of the season, allowing 14 hits and four earned runs.

GSU's Shells allowed a total of just eight hits and gave up three earned runs as she pitched a complete game (9.0 innings), striking out one batter in the slim victory.


Up Next

Grambling State will host Texas Southern in a SWAC weekend series beginning on Friday, April 16. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at the GSU Softball Complex.


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