BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Jackson State softball dropped a pair of close games at the opening day of the Samford Invitational.
 
Houston Baptist narrowly defeated JSU 5-3 and tournament-host Samford used a walk-off RBI single in the top of the seventh to defeat the Lady Tigers.
 
Game 1           Houston Baptist 5, Jackson State 3
 
HBU jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but JSU rallied in the sixth and seventh innings to nearly complete the comeback.
 
Kelsey Smith delivered an RBI up the middle in the sixth inning to put the Lady Tigers on the scoreboard.
 
In the top of the seventh, Madelyn Prukop singled to right field to push across a run. Kayla Owens was hit by the pitch with the bases-loaded to make it 5-3.
 
Owens absorbed the loss. Owens tossed five and one-thirds and allowed nine hits, four runs (three earned) and three walks and fanned three batters.
 
Leah Hopson entered in relief and threw a scoreless one and two-thirds innings.
 
Game 2           Samford 6, Jackson State 5
 
Samford used a walk-off RBI in the top of the seventh to cap the comeback over JSU.
 
In the third inning the Tigers opened a 3-0 lead. JSU loaded the bases and scored three runs without recording a hit. Prukop was hit by a pitch, Destyn Jones then drew a walk and Owens was also hit by a pitch.
 
In the sixth inning Zoey Keyes added an RBI single and Brianna Ross scored on a wild pitch.
 
JSU returns to action Saturday and plays Western Kentucky at 2 p.m.