VICKSBURG, Miss.| The Jackson State softball team split a pair Saturday after the Tigers blanked Southeastern Baptist 7-0, then fell 5-4 in an eight-inning matchup to the Tennessee State Tigers on day two of the River City Classic. The Tigers also defeated Xavier Sunday afternoon, 9-4 to even out their record.
Game 2: Jackson State vs. Tennessee State
Freshman Takiya Hill (0-1) got the ball to start for Jackson State (1-2) and took the loss. The right-hander went seven innings, giving up five runs, two earned, on eight hits, allowing two walks and striking out three.
Freshman Isabel Gusman led the way offensively for the Lady Tigers, going 2-for-3 in the ballgame with a double, a walk and an RBI. Freshman Jace Jackson put together a noteworthy day at the dish as well, going 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and an RBI. Freshman Isis Taylor also helped out, going 2-for-3 for Jackson State with an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
· Jackson State (1-2) scored its first run in the bottom of the second inning as Jace Jackson came across to score the lone run of the inning for the Tigers and get them on the board.
· Tennessee State expanded their lead to 3-1 before the JSU offense got back to work, cutting into that lead in the third.
· Jackson State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Isabel Gusman, which tightened TSU's lead to 3-2.
· JSU kept Tennessee State off the scoreboard before rallying to tie it up at three in the fourth.
· The JSU Tigers scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Isis Taylor to tie the game.
· Tennessee State busted up the tie and took the lead heading into the seventh inning when Jackson State got back on the scoreboard.
· JSU added a run on Jace Jackson's one-out RBI double, bringing the score to 5-4 in favor of Tennessee State.
· Jackson State was unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
· Jackson State's highest-scoring inning was the seventh when it pushed one run across.
· Jackson State's pitchers faced 35 Tennessee State hitters in the game, allowing 11 ground balls and six fly balls while striking out three.
· JSU drew five walks from Tennessee State pitching.
· Isabel Gusman led JSU at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
· Tennessee State was led offensively by freshman Ryla Traylor, who went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Game 3: Jackson State vs. Southeastern Baptist
HOW IT HAPPENED
· Jackson State got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning as Isis Taylor hit an RBI double that scored two runs
· Khayden Harris doubled to left field to give JSU the 3-0 lead to close out the first inning
· The Tigers were silent for three straight innings but scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 6-0 lead
· Jackson State wrapped up scoring in the bottom of the sixth after Isabel Gusman tripled down the third base line, followed by a sacrifice fly from Isis Taylor that allowed Gusman to score and secure the 7-0 win for JSU
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
· Marissa Medina (1-0) registered the win for the Tigers in the pitcher's circle
· Isis Taylor recorded three RBIs
· Khayden Harris had 10 putouts for JSU
Game 4: Jackson State vs. Xavier (LA)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Jackson State (2-2) took a 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning as Samiyyah Huckabee hit a home run over the center field fence that scored DeNaudia Smartt
- Mari Stephens increased JSU's lead to 3-0 after scoring on a wild pitch at the end of the third
- The Tigers continued to expand its lead in response to XULA's putting its first two runs on the board in the top of the fourth
- Monica Serrano singled to center field to score Madison Perry as JSU led 4-2
- The Tigers score four more runs in the bottom of the fourth led by a sacrifice groundout from Amaya Ruiz that scored Serrano and a groundout from Stephens that scored Isis Taylor (6-2 JSU), followed by a triple from Jace Jackson that score Samiyyah Huckabee
- To close out the bottom of the fourth, Jackson scored on a wild pitch as JSU carried an 8-2 lead into the fifth inning
- Xavier scored two more runs in the top of the sixth inning, but it wasn't enough as Jackson State's Jalia Hubbard scored in the bottom of the sixth on a single to left field from Jace Jackson
- The Tigers closed out with three up and three down in the top of the seventh to secure the 9-4 win
UP NEXT
Jackson State will travel to Belhaven Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.
FOLLOW JACKSON STATE ATHLETICS
For complete coverage of Jackson State athletics, follow the Tigers on social media at @GoJSUTigers (Instagram and Twitter), Jackson State Tigers (Facebook), or visit the official home of Jackson State athletics at GoJSUTigers.com.
