Softball Sweeps UAPB For 4th Straight Win

It was a Saturday series sweep.

Texas Southern University’s softball team swept a doubleheader from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, winning 2-1 and 10-7, Saturday at Houston Memorial Park. In the process, the Tigers secured their first series of the season.

TSU’s Daryn Haslam walked with the bases loaded in the third inning of Game 1 to break a scoreless tie. Destinee Dixon’s sacrifice fly to left field brought home Pam Richardson to make it 2-0.

UAPB’s Zharia Richardson homered to left on the first pitch she saw in the sixth inning to cut the lead in half. But Tigers pitcher Lailah Bell struck out the next two batters, and then used a groundout to end the inning.

Bell didn’t surrender any more damage the rest of the way in the complete game effort. She went seven innings, allowing five hits, a run and a walk, and had four strikeouts to claim her second victory of the season.

Golden Lions pitcher Danika Bryant allowed two unearned runs, a hit and six walks, while fanning six in the loss.

Marissa Martinez was 1-for-3 with a run scored for TSU (7-17, 5-7 Southwestern Athletic Conference) in the first game. Richardson went 2-for-2 with the homer and a walk for UAPB (6-29, 2-10).

In Game 2, TSU broke a 6-6 tie with four runs in the fifth, taking advantage of three Golden Lions miscues. Madison Battle advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on an error. Dixon scored on the wild pitch. Jordan McClain scored on a passed ball. Pam Richardson singled, and later scored after Madison Griggs singled to left. That gave the Tigers a 10-6 cushion.

Samaria Jackson had an RBI single to left in the sixth, but Texas Southern reliever Nora Rodriguez didn’t yield anything more to secure the sweep.

Haslam homered for the second straight day, banging a solo shot in the third of the nightcap to give the Tigers a 4-1 lead. Ja’Lynn Swiney belted a two-run shot to left on a 1-2 count put TSU ahead, 6-5.

Swiney went 2-for-3 with the homer and two RBI. Haslam was 1-for-2 with the solo homer and two walks. Lanay Carr was 1-for-3 with two RBI. Pam Richardson went 3-for-4 with a double. Griggs was 2-for-4.

Justice Walton was 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI for the Golden Lions. Jackson went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Desiree Bumpers was 2-for-3, and Jasmine Carlson was 2-for-4.

TSU starter Melonie Guardiola (2-3) gave up 10 hits, five earned runs and no walks in the win. Nora Rodriguez worked the final two innings, allowing an unearned run, three hits and a walk, while striking out four to pick up the save.

UAPB’s Sydney Green (4-9) took the loss, surrendering eight hits, nine runs, eight of which were earned, and seven walks, while recording three strikeouts. Paola Rodriguez pitched the final inning and two thirds, allowing two hits, a run and a walk.

Winners of four straight, Texas Southern will host Incarnate Word 3 p.m. Tuesday at Memorial Park.