GULFPORT, Miss.| The Jackson State softball team took a 1-0 lead in the second inning and never surrendered the advantage on the way to a 5-3 victory against Florida A&M on Thursday afternoon. JSU advances to the SWAC championship game on Friday.
Victoria Salazar (21-12) started in the circle and picked up the win for Jackson State (32-17). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up three runs, all of them earned, on four hits.
Offensively, the Tigers were paced by Julie Lopez, who went 2-for-2 on the day with two walks and an RBI. Mari Stephens compiled a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Meah Almaraz also chipped in for Jackson State, putting together one hit in four trips to the plate while adding a double and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Jackson State put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the second inning.
- The Tigers got an RBI single from Stephens, scoring Beija Allen from third base.
- Florida A&M failed to push any runs across before the Tigers built on their lead in the fourth inning.
- JSU scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-RBI double from Almaraz, which brought the Tigers lead to 4-0.
- Florida A&M narrowed Jackson State's lead to 4-3 before the Tigers stretched the advantage to 5-3 in the seventh inning.
- The Tigers scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Lopez.
- The score remained 5-3 for the rest of the game, as Jackson State held on for the win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Jackson State's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed three runs across.
- The Tigers had control of the rest of the game after moving ahead of the Rattlers 1-0 in the top of the second.
- The Tigers out-hit FAMU at a 7-4 clip.
- Jackson State went 5-for-14 (.357) with runners in scoring position.
- JSU got two hits in four at-bats with the bases loaded.\
- Jackson State pitchers faced 29 Florida A&M hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and nine fly balls.
- The Tigers drew four walks from Florida A&M pitching.
- Lopez led the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-2 with an RBI.
- Florida A&M was led offensively by sophomore Kayla Aldridge, who went 1-for-1 with a home run and three RBI.
- Zoryana Hughes led the Rattlers pitching staff, throwing five innings of four-run ball.
UP NEXT
The Tigers will play in the championship game tomorrow at the Gulfport Sportsplex and live on SWAC Digital Network. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.
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