GULFPORT, Miss. | The Grambling State University softball team jumped out to a two-run lead through the middle of the third inning, but could not hold off Alabama State in a 10-2 loss in five innings to open play on Tuesday in the 2022 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Softball Championship at the Gulfport Crossplex.
Grambling State (24-23), the third seed from the West Division, fell into the elimination bracket and will meet Jackson State, the fourth seed from the East Division, at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. Alabama State, the second seed from the East Division, advances in the winner's bracket and will meet top seed from the West Division, Texas Southern, at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Grambling State opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning
- Ta'mya Johnson led off the frame with a base hit to right and stole second
- After a groundout moved Johnson to third, India Wells, who was named to the All-SWAC Second Team, reached on an infield single
- Wells stole second and Antiya Randle walked to load the bases with one out
- Dazzlyn Woodard plated Johnson and Wells with a single up the middle as the Lady Tigers led 2-0
- Alabama State (21-29) answered with two runs on two hits, tying the game at two after three innings
- The Hornets plated two more runs and took advantage of an error in the fourth inning in grabbing a 4-2 advantage
- Alabama State exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fifth to claim the 10-2 victory
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Grambling State finished with two runs on seven hits, committed one error and left six on base
- Alabama State registered 10 runs on 10 hits and stranded one on base
- India Wells led the Lady Tigers at the plate by going 3-for-3, with one run scored
- Ta'mya Johnson, Antiya Randle, Dazzlyn Woodard, Deija Russell collected one hit each
- Dacia Richard (4-9) took the loss in the circle as she surrendered seven runs on seven hits, with two walks and three strikeouts in four innings
- Payton Shells worked 0.1 innings in relief
- Kindall Deramus, the SWAC Player of the Year, went 2-for-2, with two runs scored and one RBI
- Jaeda Gardner also collected a pair of hits
- Bailey Greenlee (12-12) pitched five innings, giving up two runs on seven hits, with three walks and one strikeout in picking up the win
UP NEXT
Grambling State continues play in the SWAC Softball Championship in an elimination game against Jackson State. First pitch is set for 9 a.m. from the Gulfport Crossplex.
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