GULFPORT, Miss.| The Jackson State softball team needed eight innings to get the job done, but secured the 6-5 extra-innings win, walking it off on Jace Jackson's double to claim victory over Alabama State Wednesday evening.
Mari Stephens cranked the three-run home run over left center to open the bottom of the eighth for the Tigers to tie the game.
Victoria Salazar (12-9) got the win out of the bullpen for Jackson State (31-17). The went 0.2 shutout innings, giving up one hit. Sophia Gonzales started for the Tigers in the circle and pitched 7.1 innings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Jackson State trailied 2-0 in the third inning when they first put runs on the board.
- JSU got an RBI single from Ka'Liyah Gipson, scoring Kristina Carlson from third base.
- The Tigers kept the Hornets off the board before tying it up in the sixth.
- Gabrielle Willis came across to score the lone run of the inning for Jackson State, which brought the score level at 2-2.
- Alabama State then broke the tied and took a 5-2 lead in top of the eighth inning.
- Jackson State scored four runs in the bottom half of the eighth starting with a three-run homerun from Mari Stephens.
- Jackson's one-out RBI double sealed the walk off win for the Tigers.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Jackson State got three-hit games from three different hitters.
- JSU's highest scoring inning was the eighth, when it pushed four runs across.
- The Tigers out-hit the Hornets at a 12-11 clip.
- Jackson State's pitchers faced 35 Alabama State hitters in the game, allowing 16 ground balls and seven fly balls.
- Mari Stephens led the Tigers at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs.
- Alabama State was led offensively by junior Alexia Denby, who went 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI.
UP NEXT
The Tigers will face Florida A&M tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. at the Gulfport Sportsplex and live on SWAC Digital Network.
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