HOUSTON – The Lady Tigers of Texas Southern University moved closer to a Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division title Friday by sweeping a doubleheader from Southern.
The Lady Tigers won the opener 1-0, and then took the second game by a score of 4-3.
With the wins, the Lady Tigers (19-10-1) improved to 10-1 in SWAC play, and kept a two-game lead over Arkansas–Pine Bluff (14-23, 10-5 SWAC) for first place in the West Division.
The losses dropped Southern (13-19) to 5-8 in SWAC play. The Jaguars need only a win or a Grambling loss to clinch the division's final berth into the SWAC Tournament. Grambling is winless in 13 conference games thus far this season.
The Lady Tigers and Jaguars conclude their series Saturday at noon. The game will be the final home contest for the Lady Tigers this season.
TSU 1, Southern 0 (Game one)
Senior pitcher Jasmin Fulmore pitched a two-hit shutout, and the Lady Tigers needed every one of those shutout innings as TSU edged their guests 1-0.
Fulmore struck out six batters and walked only three as recorded her third shutout of the season. The senior from Federal Way, Wash., improved to 5-3 in 2018.
Coren Davis led the Lady Tiger offense with two hits in as many at-bats. Her leadoff single in the bottom of the fourth inning would prove to be key in the final score, as her pinch-runner, Zariah Robins, would score from first base on Tevanae Tate's RBI double.
Meanwhile, Fulmore kept the Jaguars at bay, as she allowed hits only in the first and seventh innings. Southern would get a runner to third in the top of the sixth, but Fulmore ended the inning with a strikeout.
TSU's defense also helped keep the Jaguars off the scoreboard. Twice during the opener, catcher Marissa Padron threw out Southern baserunners attempting to steal, with Dominique Tello applying the tag in each instance. Tello also had a base hit in the game.
TSU 4, Southern 3 (Game two)
The Lady Tigers fell behind three runs early, but timely hitting put them back in the game as they went on to a doubleheader sweep.
Southern's Kiara Suttles put the Jaguars ahead with a three-run home run in the top of the third inning. TSU responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. The Lady Tigers opened their scoring with an RBI double from Tello to score Terren Vinson; Tello later came home an RBI single from senior Sierra Valdez.
In the fourth inning, Tate tied the game with another RBI double, again scoring pinch-runner Robins. Tate scored the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice bunt by Jocilynn Ellis. The Southern infield covered the bunt well, but a split-second of indecision was enough for Tate to beat the throw home, and give Ellis what would end up being the game-winning RBI.
Senior pitcher Lauren Rodriguez went the distance for the Lady Tigers, striking out seven batters while scattering six hits as she improved her season record to 10-1.
The Jaguars were denied the tying run in the top of the sixth when, with a runner on first and two outs, Sydney Andrews long hit bounced over the temporary fencing in left field for a ground-rule double. The Tiara Scott, the lead runner, was denied an opportunity to score after reaching third base because of the dead ball.
Southern would strand the two runners on base when Rodriguez induced Suttles to pop up to end the inning after a nine-pitch at bat.
Tate led the Lady Tigers with two base hits in the second game.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics
The Lady Tigers won the opener 1-0, and then took the second game by a score of 4-3.
With the wins, the Lady Tigers (19-10-1) improved to 10-1 in SWAC play, and kept a two-game lead over Arkansas–Pine Bluff (14-23, 10-5 SWAC) for first place in the West Division.
The losses dropped Southern (13-19) to 5-8 in SWAC play. The Jaguars need only a win or a Grambling loss to clinch the division's final berth into the SWAC Tournament. Grambling is winless in 13 conference games thus far this season.
The Lady Tigers and Jaguars conclude their series Saturday at noon. The game will be the final home contest for the Lady Tigers this season.
TSU 1, Southern 0 (Game one)
Senior pitcher Jasmin Fulmore pitched a two-hit shutout, and the Lady Tigers needed every one of those shutout innings as TSU edged their guests 1-0.
Fulmore struck out six batters and walked only three as recorded her third shutout of the season. The senior from Federal Way, Wash., improved to 5-3 in 2018.
Coren Davis led the Lady Tiger offense with two hits in as many at-bats. Her leadoff single in the bottom of the fourth inning would prove to be key in the final score, as her pinch-runner, Zariah Robins, would score from first base on Tevanae Tate's RBI double.
Meanwhile, Fulmore kept the Jaguars at bay, as she allowed hits only in the first and seventh innings. Southern would get a runner to third in the top of the sixth, but Fulmore ended the inning with a strikeout.
TSU's defense also helped keep the Jaguars off the scoreboard. Twice during the opener, catcher Marissa Padron threw out Southern baserunners attempting to steal, with Dominique Tello applying the tag in each instance. Tello also had a base hit in the game.
TSU 4, Southern 3 (Game two)
The Lady Tigers fell behind three runs early, but timely hitting put them back in the game as they went on to a doubleheader sweep.
Southern's Kiara Suttles put the Jaguars ahead with a three-run home run in the top of the third inning. TSU responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. The Lady Tigers opened their scoring with an RBI double from Tello to score Terren Vinson; Tello later came home an RBI single from senior Sierra Valdez.
In the fourth inning, Tate tied the game with another RBI double, again scoring pinch-runner Robins. Tate scored the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice bunt by Jocilynn Ellis. The Southern infield covered the bunt well, but a split-second of indecision was enough for Tate to beat the throw home, and give Ellis what would end up being the game-winning RBI.
Senior pitcher Lauren Rodriguez went the distance for the Lady Tigers, striking out seven batters while scattering six hits as she improved her season record to 10-1.
The Jaguars were denied the tying run in the top of the sixth when, with a runner on first and two outs, Sydney Andrews long hit bounced over the temporary fencing in left field for a ground-rule double. The Tiara Scott, the lead runner, was denied an opportunity to score after reaching third base because of the dead ball.
Southern would strand the two runners on base when Rodriguez induced Suttles to pop up to end the inning after a nine-pitch at bat.
Tate led the Lady Tigers with two base hits in the second game.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics