JACKSON, Miss. - The Jackson State softball program returns to the diamond tomorrow morning with a double-header matchup versus North Dakota and Eastern Illinois. Both games will be played at the SportPlex in Vicksburg, Miss. with first pitch slated for 11 a.m. versus North Dakota.

Game two will begin at 4 p.m. versus Eastern Illinois. The Lady Tigers are coming off of a 2020 season in which they finished 9-16 and on a two game win streak with wins over Rust College, 20-1 and 14-0.

LAST TIME OUT
JACKSON, Miss. -  On March 11, 2020 the Lady Tigers softball team handled business in a non-conference doubleheader by  defeating Rust College by finals of 20-1 and 14-0. Brooke Boechler led JSU in game one, tallying four hits and leading Jackson State to a 20-1 win over Rust College. Boechler singled in the second, singled in the second, homered in the third, and tripled in the fourth.

Kayla Owens took the win for Jackson State Tigers . She lasted two and two-thirds innings, allowing zero hits and zero runs while striking out eight and walking zero. Elyssa Sanchez threw two and a third innings in relief out of the bullpen.
Jackson State smacked four home runs on the day. Boechler went for the long ball in the third inning. Kelsey Smith went deep in the second inning. Isis Taylor put one out in the third inning. Makayla Caballero had a four bagger in the fourth inning.

Jackson State collected 22 hits. Boechler, Caballero, Smith, Taylor, Tamira Chatman, Zoey Keyes, Brianna Simms-Johnson, Glendolin Watson, and Owens each managed multiple hits for Jackson State Tigers. Boechler led Jackson State Tigers with four hits in four at bats. Jackson State was sure-handed in the field and didn't commit a single error. Boechler had the most chances in the field with 11.

In game two, Jackson State defeated Rust College 14-0 as two pitchers combined to throw a shutout. Leah Hopson struck out the final batter to finish off the game. Jackson State opened up scoring in the first inning, when Madelyn Prukop tripled on a 0-1 count, scoring one run. Destyn Jones earned the win for Jackson State Tigers . She lasted two and two-thirds innings, allowing zero hits and zero runs while striking out six and walking one. Hopson threw two and a third innings in relief out of the bullpen. Jackson State hit three home runs on the day. Brooke Boechler went deep in the second inning. Isis Taylor went yard in the second and third innings.

The Tigers collected 19 hits. Sierra Smith, Taylor, Ariana Cruz, Glendolin Watson, and Kayla Owens each collected multiple hits for Jackson State . Smith went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Tigers in hits. The Tigers finished the season with an overall record of 9-16 and on a two game winning streak.

OWENS TABBED SECOND TEAM ALL-SWAC 
Kayla Owens was selected as a Second Team All-SWAC member as a pitcher Thursday by the conference office ahead of next weeks opening day for Jackson State. Owens is coming off of a shortened season in which she tallied a .379 batting average in 29 at bats. Had 11 hits, seven runs scored, two triples, one home run, and one double.

In the circle, Owens made 13 appearances with a 5-6 records overall, with three complete games. Pitched a total of 70.0 innings  with 59 strikeouts and an earned run average of 2.90.

As a team, Jackson State was predicted in fourth place in the SWAC East. A total of five voted separated the Lady Tigers from second place.

SWAC East

1. Alabama State (81)
2. Alcorn State (56)
3. Alabama A&M (53)
4. Jackson State (51)
5. Mississippi Valley State (31)

 SWAC West

1. Prairie View A&M (80)
2. Texas Southern (69)
3. Southern (48)
4. Grambling State (40)
5. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (27) 

Preseason Player of the Year- Amari Ramsey, Alcorn State
 
Preseason Pitcher of the Year- Vanessa Bradford, Alabama State
 
2021 Preseason All-SWAC First Team
 

Position	Name	Classification	School	Hometown
1B	Mariyah Sandoval	Junior	Southern	Garden Grove, Calif.
2B	Gabrielle Fonseca	Senior	Prairie View A&M	San Juan, Texas
3B	Amari Ramsey	Senior	Alcorn State	Gulfport, Miss.
SS	Roxy Segura	Junior	Southern	Laredo, Texas
C	Serena Antone	Junior	Prairie View A&M	Wharton, Texas
OF	Shanice Akins	Senior	Arkansas-Pine Bluff	Arlington, Texas
OF	Cameron Lavergne	Graduate	Prairie View A&M	Houston, Texas
OF	Morgan Adams	Junior	Grambling State	Monroe, La.
P	Destiny Ricks	Junior	Texas Southern	Fresno, Calif.
P	Naomi Reyes	Junior	Texas Southern	Edinburg, Texas
P	Vanessa Bradford	Senior	Alabama State	Atlanta, Ga.
DP	Demi Slater	Junior	Mississippi Valley State	Dickinson, Texas

2021 Preseason All-SWAC Second Team
 

Position	Name	Classification	School	Hometown
1B	Kyra Lunford	Sophomore	Prairie View A&M	Pearland, Texas
2B	Cailyn Peterson	Junior	Mississippi Valley State	Dickinson, Texas
3B	Alexis Massie	Junior	Alabama State	Pottsboro, Texas
SS	Ayana Taylor	Sophomore	Mississippi Valley State	Ackerman, Miss.
C	Sandrea Hord	Sophomore	Alcorn State	Raleigh, Miss.
OF	Brianna Alston	Junior	Mississippi Valley State	Rocklin, Calif.
OF	Jaylon Davis	Junior	Mississippi Valley State	Murrieta, Calif.
OF	Desirea Lindsey	Senior	Alcorn State	Gulfport, Miss.
P	Aubrion James	Graduate	Southern	Madison, Ala.
P	Kayla Owens	Junior	Jackson State	Moreno Valley, Calif.
P	Lisabelle Hansell	Junior	Alabama A&M	Hayward, Calif.
DP	Kindall DeRamus	Sophomore	Alabama State	Helena, Ala.