Courtesy of SWAC.org
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Texas Southern came back from a 2-0 sixth-inning deficit to defeat Alabama State 3-2 and advance in the winner's bracket of the 2017 SWAC Softball Tournament.
Lauren Rodriguez pitched a complete game for the Lady Tigers, striking out seven while allowing only four hits and six walks. She improved to 9-4 with the win.
Rodriguez and Alabama State starter Vanessa Bradford kept the clamps on the opposing offenses through the first three innings, though the defending SWAC champion Lady Hornets created chances only to narrowly miss out on runs as they stranded four in the first three innings.
In the fourth, the Lady Hornets (17-32) put one on the scoreboard as Amira James sent a Rodriguez offering over the left field wall to make the game 1-0. However, ASU ended the inning with the bases loaded. With Texas Southern unable to get going offensively, Alabama State scrapped another on the board in the sixth when James scored following a Therese Byrne sacrifice bunt that was airmailed by the first baseman.
Texas Southern (23-18) finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth frame, loading the bases – thanks to a pitch that struck Krystalani Yockman – and bringing Heaven Benavidez across home plate with a RBI sac fly by Sierra Valdez. Marissa Padron drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game before Bradford (6.2 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, L) struck out Jocilynn Ellis to end the inning.
Alabama State threatened in the top of the seventh, getting runners to second and third, but Rodriguez fanned Perry Hindi to escape the jam.
Texas Southern then got runners on after Kelsey Riley (2-for-4) led off with a single, and Riley scored the winning run on a sac fly by Chanler Powell.
The Lady Tigers will play in the winner's bracket final Friday when they face Southern. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. The winner of that game will then advance to the championship round Saturday, needing only one win to claim the conference title.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Texas Southern came back from a 2-0 sixth-inning deficit to defeat Alabama State 3-2 and advance in the winner's bracket of the 2017 SWAC Softball Tournament.
Lauren Rodriguez pitched a complete game for the Lady Tigers, striking out seven while allowing only four hits and six walks. She improved to 9-4 with the win.
Rodriguez and Alabama State starter Vanessa Bradford kept the clamps on the opposing offenses through the first three innings, though the defending SWAC champion Lady Hornets created chances only to narrowly miss out on runs as they stranded four in the first three innings.
In the fourth, the Lady Hornets (17-32) put one on the scoreboard as Amira James sent a Rodriguez offering over the left field wall to make the game 1-0. However, ASU ended the inning with the bases loaded. With Texas Southern unable to get going offensively, Alabama State scrapped another on the board in the sixth when James scored following a Therese Byrne sacrifice bunt that was airmailed by the first baseman.
Texas Southern (23-18) finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth frame, loading the bases – thanks to a pitch that struck Krystalani Yockman – and bringing Heaven Benavidez across home plate with a RBI sac fly by Sierra Valdez. Marissa Padron drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game before Bradford (6.2 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, L) struck out Jocilynn Ellis to end the inning.
Alabama State threatened in the top of the seventh, getting runners to second and third, but Rodriguez fanned Perry Hindi to escape the jam.
Texas Southern then got runners on after Kelsey Riley (2-for-4) led off with a single, and Riley scored the winning run on a sac fly by Chanler Powell.
The Lady Tigers will play in the winner's bracket final Friday when they face Southern. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. The winner of that game will then advance to the championship round Saturday, needing only one win to claim the conference title.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics