SAN ANTONIO – Texas Southern University's Lady Tigers improved to 3-1 in 2017 with a doubleheader sweep Tuesday at Our Lady of the Lake.
The Lady Tigers struck first in the opener and then held off the Saints to win 6-4; the second game saw OLLU take an early lead before the Lady Tigers came back late to win 8-5.
Texas Southern returns to action Wednesday when the Lady Tigers make the short drive to Houston Baptist to face the Huskies. The single game is scheduled for 3 p.m. at HBU.
Game 1: TSU 6, OLLU 4
Texas Southern's three-run sixth inning turned out to be the cushion the Lady Tigers needed to defeat their NAIA host in Tuesday's opener. Chanler Powell's pinch-hit single that scored Marissa Padron turned out to be the game-winning RBI as TSU stretched their lead at the time to 5-1.
Powell and Padron's RBI singles sandwiched a sacrifice fly from Tiffany Marshall in the inning. Marshall also scored a run in the fifth inning when she came home on a sacrifice fly from Treshea Wilson. Sierra Valdez opened the scoring with a solo home run – her first of the season – in the top of the fourth.
Lauren Rodriguez pitched six innings and gave up only two earned runs while striking out four batters to pick up her first victory of the season. Rodriguez improved her pitching record to 1-1.
Tyra Williams replaced Rodriguez in the bottom of the seventh after Kristina Tiffany led off the inning with a solo home run to cut TSU's lead to 6-3. Williams retired the first batter, then loaded the bases before striking out Kimberly Chaves.
Taylor Doege drew a bases loaded walk before Williams induced Lauren Garza to fly out to end the contest. Williams was credited with the save.
The Lady Tigers added a run in the top of the seventh when Krystalani Yockman scored on a two-out error that allowed Jocilynn Ellis to reach base. Yockman knocked two hits in the game.
Game 2: TSU 8, OLLU 5
The Lady Tigers trailed 5-1 after two innings of play before scoring seven unanswered runs to leave the Alamo City with a sweep.
Ellis knocked a bunt single in the top of the fourth that scored pinch runner Zariah Robins to cut OLLU's lead to 5-2. Later in the inning with two outs, Madilynn Marek drove a single to right field that scored Ellis and Giselle Paranich, both unearned. The inning had been extended after OLLU failed to get Yockman out on a groundball with no outs and one runner on base.
Still trailing by a run in the bottom of the fifth, TSU led off the inning with Kelsey Riley reaching base on a throwing error. Valdez then walked, and after Chanler Powell reached base on a fielder's choice that retired Riley, Yockman knocked an infield single to load the bases.
Kierra Patton was then called upon to pinch-hit for Ellis. Patton drew an RBI walk to reach base safely for the first time this season and tie the score at 5-5. Paranich came to the plate and knocked a two-RBI single, scoring Yockman and Powell. Marek capped the inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Ellis, who re-entered the game after Patton's walk.
Tiffany Marshall pitched six scoreless innings of relief, striking out three Saints and scattering six hits. Williams started game two in the circle, but was charged for five earned runs in one complete inning.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics
The Lady Tigers struck first in the opener and then held off the Saints to win 6-4; the second game saw OLLU take an early lead before the Lady Tigers came back late to win 8-5.
Texas Southern returns to action Wednesday when the Lady Tigers make the short drive to Houston Baptist to face the Huskies. The single game is scheduled for 3 p.m. at HBU.
Game 1: TSU 6, OLLU 4
Texas Southern's three-run sixth inning turned out to be the cushion the Lady Tigers needed to defeat their NAIA host in Tuesday's opener. Chanler Powell's pinch-hit single that scored Marissa Padron turned out to be the game-winning RBI as TSU stretched their lead at the time to 5-1.
Powell and Padron's RBI singles sandwiched a sacrifice fly from Tiffany Marshall in the inning. Marshall also scored a run in the fifth inning when she came home on a sacrifice fly from Treshea Wilson. Sierra Valdez opened the scoring with a solo home run – her first of the season – in the top of the fourth.
Lauren Rodriguez pitched six innings and gave up only two earned runs while striking out four batters to pick up her first victory of the season. Rodriguez improved her pitching record to 1-1.
Tyra Williams replaced Rodriguez in the bottom of the seventh after Kristina Tiffany led off the inning with a solo home run to cut TSU's lead to 6-3. Williams retired the first batter, then loaded the bases before striking out Kimberly Chaves.
Taylor Doege drew a bases loaded walk before Williams induced Lauren Garza to fly out to end the contest. Williams was credited with the save.
The Lady Tigers added a run in the top of the seventh when Krystalani Yockman scored on a two-out error that allowed Jocilynn Ellis to reach base. Yockman knocked two hits in the game.
Game 2: TSU 8, OLLU 5
The Lady Tigers trailed 5-1 after two innings of play before scoring seven unanswered runs to leave the Alamo City with a sweep.
Ellis knocked a bunt single in the top of the fourth that scored pinch runner Zariah Robins to cut OLLU's lead to 5-2. Later in the inning with two outs, Madilynn Marek drove a single to right field that scored Ellis and Giselle Paranich, both unearned. The inning had been extended after OLLU failed to get Yockman out on a groundball with no outs and one runner on base.
Still trailing by a run in the bottom of the fifth, TSU led off the inning with Kelsey Riley reaching base on a throwing error. Valdez then walked, and after Chanler Powell reached base on a fielder's choice that retired Riley, Yockman knocked an infield single to load the bases.
Kierra Patton was then called upon to pinch-hit for Ellis. Patton drew an RBI walk to reach base safely for the first time this season and tie the score at 5-5. Paranich came to the plate and knocked a two-RBI single, scoring Yockman and Powell. Marek capped the inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Ellis, who re-entered the game after Patton's walk.
Tiffany Marshall pitched six scoreless innings of relief, striking out three Saints and scattering six hits. Williams started game two in the circle, but was charged for five earned runs in one complete inning.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics