Courtesy of SWAC.org
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The Lady Tigers of Texas Southern University advanced to the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament championship on Friday with a 12-1 win over Southern in five innings.
TSU (24-18) awaits the winner of the loser's bracket final between Southern and Alabama State, which opens play on Saturday. Live audio and video links to the championship game can be found on the SWAC Digital Network page.
The Lady Tigers have the inside track to the championship of the double-elimination tournament, needing to win just once Saturday. For a team other than TSU to win the conference title would require three consecutive wins on the same day. If TSU loses the 2 p.m. game, the winner-take-all contest will be start at approximately 4:30 p.m.
In Friday's semifinal, Jocilynn Ellis accounted for five RBI, and Jasmin Fulmore held Southern (17-21) to three hits as the West Division champions breezed past the Jaguars, who finished fourth in the SWAC's West Division.
After a scoreless first, Texas Southern's Sierra Valdez led off the second inning with a single. After Dominique Tello advanced her with a double, Krystalani Yockman beat out a throw to first to load the bags. Jocilynn Ellis slapped a two-run double to left center. The Lady Tigers ultimately chased Southern starter Aubrion James, but Heaven Benavidez drew a bases-loaded walk off of Jaguars reliever Tiara Scott before the inning ended.
The Lady Tigers carried their momentum to the third as Yockman hit a RBI single to build on TSU's lead. Ellis, who went 3-for-3 with 5 RBI and scored two runs, followed with a RBI single as well, advancing to second on the throw. After Kelsey Riley reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases, Benavidez delivered a two-run single to left, giving the Tigers a 7-0 lead.
A Sydney Andrews single broke up the no-hit bid for Texas Southern's Jasmin Fulmore in the fourth, and Andrews later scored on a Scott single that put two on, but Scott was picked off by Marissa Padron, and Fulmore fanned Jazmine Dukes to end the Jaguars' scoring chance.
Texas Southern responded in the fourth as Ellis delivered a two-run single – after the Lady Tigers scratched a run across thanks to a miscue by Dukes – as part of a five-run frame where Texas Southern sealed its spot in the tournament final.
Dominique Tello was 3-for-3 with three runs. Fulmore got the win, striking out six and allowing one run.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The Lady Tigers of Texas Southern University advanced to the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament championship on Friday with a 12-1 win over Southern in five innings.
TSU (24-18) awaits the winner of the loser's bracket final between Southern and Alabama State, which opens play on Saturday. Live audio and video links to the championship game can be found on the SWAC Digital Network page.
The Lady Tigers have the inside track to the championship of the double-elimination tournament, needing to win just once Saturday. For a team other than TSU to win the conference title would require three consecutive wins on the same day. If TSU loses the 2 p.m. game, the winner-take-all contest will be start at approximately 4:30 p.m.
In Friday's semifinal, Jocilynn Ellis accounted for five RBI, and Jasmin Fulmore held Southern (17-21) to three hits as the West Division champions breezed past the Jaguars, who finished fourth in the SWAC's West Division.
After a scoreless first, Texas Southern's Sierra Valdez led off the second inning with a single. After Dominique Tello advanced her with a double, Krystalani Yockman beat out a throw to first to load the bags. Jocilynn Ellis slapped a two-run double to left center. The Lady Tigers ultimately chased Southern starter Aubrion James, but Heaven Benavidez drew a bases-loaded walk off of Jaguars reliever Tiara Scott before the inning ended.
The Lady Tigers carried their momentum to the third as Yockman hit a RBI single to build on TSU's lead. Ellis, who went 3-for-3 with 5 RBI and scored two runs, followed with a RBI single as well, advancing to second on the throw. After Kelsey Riley reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases, Benavidez delivered a two-run single to left, giving the Tigers a 7-0 lead.
A Sydney Andrews single broke up the no-hit bid for Texas Southern's Jasmin Fulmore in the fourth, and Andrews later scored on a Scott single that put two on, but Scott was picked off by Marissa Padron, and Fulmore fanned Jazmine Dukes to end the Jaguars' scoring chance.
Texas Southern responded in the fourth as Ellis delivered a two-run single – after the Lady Tigers scratched a run across thanks to a miscue by Dukes – as part of a five-run frame where Texas Southern sealed its spot in the tournament final.
Dominique Tello was 3-for-3 with three runs. Fulmore got the win, striking out six and allowing one run.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics