Softball Has Clutch Outings In Doubleheader Win Over Grambling State

The TSU softball pitching staff ruled the day after a pair of 1-0 shutouts over Grambling State on Friday.
 
TSU 1, GSU 0
Lailah Bell threw a two-hit shutout as TSU scored early to win the opener 1-0.
 
Jordan McClain opened the bottom of the first with a single and moved to second on Pamela Richardson’s sac bunt. After a TSU strikeout, Madison Griggs drove in the RBI which would turn out to be the only run of the day.
 
Grambling State had its moments with runners on third in the third and sixth innings with two outs but TSU’s defense was clutch with a pair of groundouts to end the inning. In the seventh, TSU recorded two quick outs but the tying run was on first after a walk. However, Bell sealed the deal with a fielder’s choice to end the game.
 
TSU totaled four hits as McClain also drew two walks and a hit. Bell went the distance while allowing only two hits and a strikeout.
 
TSU 1, GSU 0
TSU was in another nail biter as a seventh-inning RBI broke open a scoreless tie for the 1-0 walk off win.
 
Both teams had runners on third in the second but couldn’t capitalize. TSU loaded the bases in the third with one out but they wouldn’t take advantage after recording a pair of pop flies. Grambling State loaded the bases in the fourth with two outs but starter Jazmine Gendorf came up big with a strikeout to end the threat.
 
GSU had a runner on third with one out in the sixth but Gendorf forced a fielder’s choice to throw the runner out at home. She then followed it up with a strikeout to end the inning. TSU had two runners on in the sixth with no outs but came up scoreless.
 
After a 1-2-3 seventh, TSU’s Saniah Henderson hit a well-placed single down the right field line and moved to second on a GSU error while fielding the ball. Nya Leday-Johnson was inserted as a pinch runner and advanced to third on Tamera McKnight’s sac bunt. Angel Morales was inserted as a pinch hitter with the winning run on third and battled GSU pitcher Erin Gibbs for nearly 10 pitches. Morales won the battle with a hit in between second and center field for the game winner.
 
TSU totaled six hits while Gendorf struck out six while allowing only four hits.
 
The series concludes on Saturday with a single game at 1 p.m. at Memorial Park. The team will honor six seniors after the contest.