Box Score GULFPORT, Miss. – The Jackson State University softball team got off to a fast start en route to an 8-7 win over Texas Southern Thursday morning in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament.
 
With its second straight win facing elimination, Jackson State will face the Southern later today at 4:30 p.m.
 
A five-run first inning set the tone for JSU as it eliminated #1 seed and Western Division champion Texas Southern. Lauren Stewart led off the game with a double to left center and moved to third on Mari Stephens' single to left center. After Stephens stole second, Ariel Arredondo doubled to center, scoring both runners for a 2-0 lead. Isabel Gusman doubled to center, scoring Arredondo for a 3-0 lead. Jalia Hubbard then walked before Zoey Keyes doubled to left scoring Arredondo and Hubbard for a 5-0 lead.
 
In the second inning, Stewart led off with a triple to right center, and scored on a one-out double by Arredondo for a 6-0 lead. Gusman followed with a triple to left, scoring Arredondo for a 7-0 lead.
 
Leading 7-5 in the sixth, JSU added a key insurance run. Samiyyah Huckabee doubled to left center and scored on a one-out single by Stephens.