HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Jackson State softball dropped a pair of games at the second day of the Gold and Black Invitational. Central Arkansas defeated JSU 11-3 in the morning session, while Houston Baptist topped the Lady Tigers in the afternoon tilt.
 
Central Arkansas 11, Jackson State 3
 
Senior Kelsey Smith batted 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI. Junior Cheyenne Aplon added a pitch-hit RBI for the Lady Tigers third run of the game.
 
Junior Elyssa Sanchez started in the circle and absorbed the defeat. The junior tossed four innings and allowed 10 hits, 11 runs (nine earned) and walked one batter and stuck out one.
 
Freshman Leah Hopson entered in relief and tossed a scoreless inning.
 
Houston Baptist 4, Jackson State 0
 
Sophomore Kayla Owens tossed a complete game and scattered seven hits, allowed four runs (three earned) and walked four while fanning five batters.
 
Junior Ariana Cruz and Smith each picked up a hit for JSU.
 
Lady Tigers return to the diamond Sunday versus Tennessee Tech.