The Jackson State University softball team completed a three-game series sweep of Southwestern Athletic Conference rival Mississippi Valley State by identical 2-1 scores Saturday at the JSU Softball Field.
All three games were 2-1 results, as Jackson State (17-15 overall, 8-4 SWAC) takes at least a share of first place in the SWAC's Eastern Division pending all weekend results.
"It's about executing," said JSU head coach
Kevin Montgomery. "We work on it every day. Scoring one run, being down one run, (being tied) having to get one run, executing is always a thing. The thing about it is even though we executed on some plays, we still couldn't get runs across. We had to get big hits in timely situations and that's really what propelled us."
Game 1: Lady Tigers 2, MVSU 1
Trailing 1-0 in the second inning,
Isis Taylor and
Jalia Hubbard were each hit by pitch to lead of the inning. With one out,
Monica Serrano singled to left to load the bases before
Isabel Gusman was hit by a pitch to score Taylor.
In the third inning,
Lauren Stewart singled to right field with one out, and stole second. With two out, Julia Hubbard singled to left field, scoring Taylor.
Ariel Arrendondo went 2-for-3 to lead JSU at the plate.
Takiya Hill (6-4) got the complete game win on the mound, allowing six hits and one unearned run with one strikeout.
Game 2: Lady Tigers 2, MVSU 1
As she did on Friday, Hill delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the sixth inning.
With two out, Arrendondo singled up the middle and was pinch run for by
Laura Axson. Hill then doubled to right center, scoring Axson with what proved to be the winning run.
Trailing 1-0 in the third, JSU tied the score. With one out, S Huckabee doubled to left center, and scored on a Stewart single up the middle.
Victoria Salazar (4-3) got the complete-game win, scattering eight hits and one run, walking two, and striking out one.
Jackson State returns to action Tuesday at Southeastern Louisiana in a 4 p.m. doubleheader.
