JACKSON, Miss.| The Jackson State softball team rallied from down 5-4 in the fifth inning to beat Mississippi Valley State 8-5 Sunday afternoon in game one of its doubleheader. The Tigers battled for a six-inning win topping the Devilettes 16-8 in the second game to secure the series sweep over MVSU.

Victoria Salazar (4-5) started in the circle and picked up the win for Jackson State. Salazar went seven innings, giving up five runs, two earned, on four hits, allowing four walks and striking out six.

In the batter's box, the Tigers were paced by Kristina Carlson, who went 2-for-3 on the day with a double, a walk and an RBI. Brooklyn Morris compiled a standout day at the plate as well, going 1-for-1 with two walks and an RBI. Jalia Hubbard also helped out for Jackson State, putting together one hit in two trips to the plate while adding a walk and an RBI.

GAME 2 JSU 8, MVSU 5

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Tigers were trailing 2-0 in the second inning when they first put runs on the board.
• Jackson State got an RBI single from Beija Allen, scoring Carlson from third base.
• JSU's deficit grew to 3-1 before their offense got back on the scoreboard, tying the score in the third inning.
• Jackson State picked up a pair of runs in the frame. which evened the score at 3-
• Mississippi Valley State busted the tie and took a 5-3 lead heading into the fifth, when Jackson State closed the gap to 5-4.
• The Tigers scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Carlson.
• Jackson State kept the Devilettes off the board before taking the lead in the sixth.
• The Tigers scored four runs in the inning, highlighted by a one-run single off the bat of Hubbard, bringing their advantage to 8-5.
• The score remained 8-5 for the rest of the game, as the Tigers held on for the win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Salazar struck out six MVSU hitters.
• Every Jackson State starter reached base safely in the win.
• Jackson State's highest scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed four runs across and the Tigers out-hit the Devilettes at a 10-4 clip.
• JSU went 6-for-14 (.429) with runners in scoring position.
• Jackson State's pitchers limited Mississippi Valley State to just 1-for-13 (.077) with runners in scoring position as they faced 32 MVSU hitters in the game, allowing 13 ground balls and two fly balls while striking out six.
• The Tigers drew six walks from Mississippi Valley State's pitching.
• Carlson led the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
• Mississippi Valley State was led offensively by Shelby Carson, who went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
•  Morgan Gutierrez led the Devilettes pitching staff, throwing six innings of eight-run ball.

GAME 2 JSU 16, MVSU 8

Marissa Medina put together an outstanding outing at the plate for JSU Sunday in game two of the doubleheader hitting two home runs to help propel the Tigers over Mississippi Valley State 16-8 in six innings.

Macie Kuppenbender (2-3) started in the circle and picked up the win for Jackson State. The right-hander went five innings, giving up eight runs, four earned, on seven hits, allowing two walks and striking out four. Medina also made an impact in the circle for the Tigers, starting the ballgame and throwing one scoreless inning while allowing one hit.

Medina went 4-for-4 at the plate, supplementing her two home runs with two doubles while driving in four runs. Rachel Barker added to Medina's awesome power-hitting performance by going 3-for-3 with a triple and an RBI along with one walk. Samiyyah Huckabee also helped out for the Tigers, going 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Jackson State (13-15,  3-3 SWAC) got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the bottom of the first inning.
• Jackson State plated two runs off of Mississippi Valley State pitching, one of which was driven in on a run-scoring double off the bat of Medina.
• MVSU then gained ground, narrowing the lead to 2-1 until the Tigers expanded their advantage in the second.
• The JSU offense exploded for five runs, highlighted by a one-run double off the bat of freshman Jace Jackson, which brought the Tigers lead to 7-1.
• Mississippi Valley State narrowed Jackson State's lead to 7-3 before the Tigers stretched the advantage to 8-3 in the fourth inning.
• JSU recorded a run on Medina's leadoff home run off sophomore Morgan Gutierrez.
• The Devilettes tied the ballgame at eight before Jackson State fought back to retake their advantage in the fifth inning.
• The Tigers scored five runs in the inning, highlighted by a one-run double off the bat of Medina, bringing the advantage to 13-8.
•  JSU held Mississippi Valley State scoreless before building on their lead to 16-8 the following inning.
• Jackson State picked up three runs, including one driven in on a home run by freshman Precious Cooper.
• The score remained 16-8 for the rest of the game as the Tigers coasted to the win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The Tigers got two home runs off the bat of Medina.
• Medina collected four hits on the day for Jackson State as she had a fantastic power hitting day reaching safely with four extra base hits and driving in four runs
• Jackson State's highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed five runs across.
•  JSU took a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
• Four Tigers had multiple hits in the ballgame and the hitters hit three home runs in the ballgame.
• The Tigers out-hit the Devilettes at a 15-8 clip.
• Both Medina and Huckabee stole three bases in the game and the Tigers swiped nine bases as a team.
• Jackson State went 7-for-14 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
• Jackson State pitchers faced 30 Mississippi Valley State hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and four fly balls while striking out four.
• The Tigers drew six walks from Mississippi Valley State's pitching.
• Mississippi Valley State was led offensively by junior Shelby Carson, who went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI.
• Gutierrez led the Devilettes' pitching staff, throwing two innings of nine-run ball.

UP NEXT
The Tigers will be back at the JSU Softball Field Wednesday to take on Southern University. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.

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