Softball Opens Tourney Play With Win Over Abilene Christian

AUSTIN, Texas – Jazmine Dodd’s two-out single to centerfield drove in what would prove to be the game-winning runs scoring Jordan McClain and Destinee Dixon as the Texas Southern University softball team ousted Abilene Christian University 5-3 on the first day of action in the Lone Star State Invitational hosted by the University of Texas.

Dodd came to the plate a couple batters after McClain broke a 2-2 tie when her one-out fielder’s choice brought in an aggressive base-running Lanay Carr in the top of the sixth.

ACU (3-8) threatened to send the game into extra innings after a wild bottom of the seventh that would see pinch-hitting Giana Russo single to centerfield to score Logan Gaspar to bring the Wildcats to within 5-3 but could not muster anything else. Lailah Bell (1-1) forced a flyout to left to end the game after ACU got runners on second and third with two outs.

Bell went three innings in relief giving up one run on four hits with a strikeout after starting pitcher Jazmine Gendorf hurled four strong innings to start the game allowing two runs with only one earned to go along with no hits, two strikeouts and a walk.

A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first by the Wildcats got the scoring started as two runs scored on the play with one being aided by a TSU error.

TSU (1-6) would stay quiet until after start of the fifth inning when Pam Richardson got the Tigers on the scoreboard when she reached safely on an error by the ACU shortstop that would also see Marissa Martinez score on the play. Dodd’s four-pitch walk would see Richardson score from third to tie the contest at 2-2 before her late-game performance propelled the Tigers to the final margin of victory.
 
UP NEXT
The Tigers will continue to take part in the Lone Star State Invitational on Saturday, Feb, 25, with the day’s first game being against Virginia Tech (10 a.m.) and a rematch with Abilene Christian (12:30 p.m.).