HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Jackson State softball team dropped a pair of contests at the final day of the Black and Gold Invitational Sunday afternoon. Tennessee Tech defeated JSU 7-3 and Southern Miss upended the Lady Tigers 9-1.
 
Tennessee Tech 7, Jackson State 3
 
Junior Ariana Cruz scored on a throwing error and fellow junior Brooke Boechler drew a based-loaded walk and the Lady Tigers went into the fifth inning with a 2-1 lead. The Golden Eagles added six runs in the top of the fifth to put the game out of reach.
 
Freshman Destyn Jones added an RBI double down the right field line in JSU's part of the fifth inning. Senior Kelsey Smith and sophomore Kayla Owens each added a hit.
 
Jones also went the distance in the circle for JSU. The Duluth, Georgia native tossed a complete game and scattered eight hits, allowed seven runs and two walks and fanned two batters.
 
Southern Miss 9, Jackson State 1
 
Freshman Nava Fisher hit a home run in the bottom of the fifth to break-up USM's no-bid attempt.
 
Junior Elyssa Sanchez absorbed the loss. The junior threw 1 1/3 innings and allowed seven hits and eight runs (seven earned) and a pair of walks.
 
Freshman Leah Hopson entered in relief and tossed 2 2/3 innings and allowed one and one run while fanning three batters.
 
JSU returns to the diamond Tuesday at 5 p.m. and hosts Belhaven University for its home opener at the JSU Softball Complex.