Softball Splits With Alcorn State, Wins Series

Texas Southern split its doubleheader on Saturday to claim the series over Alcorn State on Saturday at Memorial Park.
 
ALCORN STATE 7, TSU 0
TSU only managed four hits as Alcorn State won the opener 7-0.
 
With the contest originally scheduled for 10 a.m., a torrential downpour in the area earlier that morning forced a three-hour delay as the field crew worked tirelessly to make the field playable.
 
Once the contest started, ASU scored twice to open the first as TSU had a runner on third in the bottom frame but couldn’t drive them in. TSU had another opportunity to cut into the deficit in the second as Madison Battle reached third followed by Lanay Carr reaching second but the team couldn’t capitalize.
 
ASU added a run in the fourth to lead 3-0 and once again TSU had another shot as Carr doubled and reached third. However, the inning ended on a groundout. In the fifth, Ja’Lynn Swiney led the inning off with a single and made it to third after a sac bunt. Daryn Haslam Walked but the inning ended with no runs. ASU broke the game open in the sixth with four runs and never looked back for the win.
 
Destinee Dixon, Battle, Carr and Swiney all had this for TSU while Jazmine Gendorf was tagged with the loss on the mound.
 
TSU 7, ALCORN STATE 5
The bats came alive in game two as the team overcame an early deficit and scored twice in the sixth to break a deadlocked game in a 7-5 win.
 
ASU jumped out to a 3-0 lead but TSU tied it in the first as Pam Richardson and Destinee Dixon both walked to start off before Madison Griggs’ RBI scored Richardson. An ASU error led to Daryn Haslam’s run followed by Angel Morales’ RBI single to score Battle.
 
A solo homer in the third saw ASU move ahead 4-3 but TSU fought back in the fourth as Richardson led off with a single and moved to third after Haslam’s double. Griggs’ RBI scored Richardson and Battle drove in Haslam for a 5-4 lead and an ASU pitching change.
 
A TSU error to open the fifth followed by a walk paved the way for an ASU RBI single, a 5-5 tie and a TSU pitching change as Nora Rodriguez entered for starter Melonie Guardiola. Rodriguez escaped the inning with no further damage as she forced three consecutive groundouts.
 
Haslam led the sixth off with a single and Griggs’ single moved over pinch runner Deana Zuniga. Battle’s bunt loaded the bases which set up Tamera McKnight’s sac fly to right. A wild pitch would score Griggs as Rodriguez had a 1-2-3 seventh to close out the game.
 
Both Griggs and Battle finished 3-for-4 while Haslam had two hits. Griggs led the way with two RBI while Nora Rodriguez allowed no hits and had a perfect outing to earn the win in relief.
 
TSU is back in action on Saturday as they’ll face Prairie View A&M at 3 p.m. in Prairie View, Texas.