HOUSTON – Texas Southern University's Lady Tigers opened their 2017 softball season Wednesday with a doubleheader split with Texas A&M–Corpus Christi.
The visiting Islanders took the opening game 1-0, while TSU claimed a 4-2 win in the nightcap.
"We're really excited to be back on the field," said TSU head coach Worley Barker. "We saw some good things today in both games. We'll have a week off before our next game and during that time we'll work on improving in the areas where we didn't execute quite as well."
Dominique Tello and Sierra Valdez knocked back-to-back RBIs in the bottom of the fifth inning to stretch Texas Southern's lead to 4-1, which proved to be enough of a cushion to keep their Southland Conference opponent at bay.
Tyra Williams pitched seven innings and allowed only one earned run while striking out three batters and allowing only five hits to pick up TSU's first victory of the season.
Zariah Robins opened the scoring in game two when she stole home as a part of a double-steal attempt by the Lady Tigers in the second inning. Jocilynn Ellis began the play by attempting to steal second base, which drew the attention of the TAMUCC infield. Ellis retreated to first, but it gave Robins enough time to score from third.
Robins came into the game as a pinch runner after Chanler Powell knocked a one-out double in the bottom of the second inning.
Texas Southern's game two win was the program's first-ever win over Texas A&M–Corpus Christi. The teams only previous meetings occurred during the 2011 season, when the Islanders shut out the visiting Lady Tigers 12-0 and 8-0 in Corpus Christi.
Game One
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi manufactured a run in the top of first inning and that was all the support pitcher Liz Carter needed as she struck out eight TSU batters.
TSU left seven runners on base in game one, including stranding the bases loaded in the second inning, and two more runners in the seventh.
Valdez knocked two hits for the Lady Tigers. Lauren Rodriguez gave a solid outing in the pitcher's circle, but took the hard-luck loss.
The Lady Tigers return to action Tuesday when they visit San Antonio for a doubleheader at Our Lady of the Lake. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics
The visiting Islanders took the opening game 1-0, while TSU claimed a 4-2 win in the nightcap.
"We're really excited to be back on the field," said TSU head coach Worley Barker. "We saw some good things today in both games. We'll have a week off before our next game and during that time we'll work on improving in the areas where we didn't execute quite as well."
Dominique Tello and Sierra Valdez knocked back-to-back RBIs in the bottom of the fifth inning to stretch Texas Southern's lead to 4-1, which proved to be enough of a cushion to keep their Southland Conference opponent at bay.
Tyra Williams pitched seven innings and allowed only one earned run while striking out three batters and allowing only five hits to pick up TSU's first victory of the season.
Zariah Robins opened the scoring in game two when she stole home as a part of a double-steal attempt by the Lady Tigers in the second inning. Jocilynn Ellis began the play by attempting to steal second base, which drew the attention of the TAMUCC infield. Ellis retreated to first, but it gave Robins enough time to score from third.
Robins came into the game as a pinch runner after Chanler Powell knocked a one-out double in the bottom of the second inning.
Texas Southern's game two win was the program's first-ever win over Texas A&M–Corpus Christi. The teams only previous meetings occurred during the 2011 season, when the Islanders shut out the visiting Lady Tigers 12-0 and 8-0 in Corpus Christi.
Game One
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi manufactured a run in the top of first inning and that was all the support pitcher Liz Carter needed as she struck out eight TSU batters.
TSU left seven runners on base in game one, including stranding the bases loaded in the second inning, and two more runners in the seventh.
Valdez knocked two hits for the Lady Tigers. Lauren Rodriguez gave a solid outing in the pitcher's circle, but took the hard-luck loss.
The Lady Tigers return to action Tuesday when they visit San Antonio for a doubleheader at Our Lady of the Lake. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics