GAME 1 | Florida A&M 10, Jackson State 3

JACKSON, Miss.| The Jackson State softball team lost its first game but came back and won its second game of the Florida A&M series to open SWAC play Friday evening. The Tigers fell 10-3 in game one and took game two 3-1.

Brooklyn Morris (1-5) started and took the loss in the circle for Jackson State in game one.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Trailing 2-0, Jackson State (8-9, 0-1 SWAC) first put runs on the board in the fourth inning off of a sacrifice fly from Sommer Tyes that scored Jace Jackson.
• The Tigers managed to push across two runs in the inning as Meah Almaraz scored during Brooklyn Morris' at bat.
• The Rattlers scored seven runs to retake their advantage between the fifth and sixth innings.
• JSU responded by getting back on the scoreboard themselves as Zaria Keyes came across to score the lone run of the inning for Jackson State in the bottom of the seventh.
• The Tigers were unable to get any closer, as Florida A&M added one run to their tally on the way to a 10-3 final.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Jackson State's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed two runs across.
• Keyes stole two bases in Friday's game.
• JSU's pitchers faced 35 Florida A&M hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out two.
• Almaraz led the Tigers at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a double.
• Florida A&M was led offensively by Amari Brown, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs.
• Zoryana Hughes led the Rattlers pitching staff, throwing seven innings of three-run ball.

GAME 2 | Jackson State 3, Florida A&M 1

The Jackson State Tigers took a 2-1 lead in the first inning and never surrendered the advantage on the way to a 3-1 victory against the Florida A&M Rattlers on Friday night.
Jorgina Gant (4-1) got the win for Jackson State. The right-hander went seven innings, giving up one run on two hits, allowing one walk and striking out three.
Offensively, the Tigers were led by Jace Jackson, who went 1-for-2 on the day with a double, a walk and an RBI. Ka'Liyah Gipson put together a standout effort as well, going 2-for-3. Meah Almaraz also helped out for Jackson State, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Jackson State (9-9, 1-1 SWAC) trailed 1-0 in the first inning when they first put runs on the board.
• Almaraz's run-scoring single highlighted a two-run inning for Jackson State.
• The Tigers then held the Rattlers scoreless before expanding their lead in the fifth inning. Jackson State pushed across a run on Jackson's two-out RBI double, which brought JSU's lead to 3-1.
• The score remained 3-1 for the rest of the game, as Jackson State held on for the win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Jackson State grabbed a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
• The Tigers out-hit the Rattlers at a 5-2 clip.
• Gipson stole two bases in Friday's game and JSU swiped five bases as a team.
• Jackson State went 2-for-5 (.400) with runners in scoring position.
• Gant faced 25 Florida A&M hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and 10 fly balls while striking out three.
• The Tigers drew four walks from Florida A&M pitching.
• Jackson led the Tigers at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI.
• Florida A&M was led offensively by Neriah Lee, who went 1-for-2 with a triple.
• Samantha Smith took the loss in the circle for the Rattlers.

UP NEXT
The Tigers will conclude the series against Florida A&M on Saturday morning. First pitch is set for 10 a.m.

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