Jackson State 13, Grambling State 4 (March 26)
Jackson State 6, Grambling State 5 (March 26)
Grambling State 8, Jackson State 3 (March 27)
GRAMBLING, La. – Jackson State (9-22, 2-4 SWAC) managed to snipe two of three contests from Grambling State (11-21, 1-5 SWAC), winning Monday’s games with scores of 13-4 and 6-5 before the home-standing Tigers took game three by a score of 8-3 on Tuesday afternoon.
In game one, the Lady Tigers started out hot and scored two quick runs in the first inning and one run in the second inning, 3-0. Hailey Haynes, Allye Hartley, and McKenzie Johnson crossed the home plate for GSU.
From that point, however, it was all Jackson State, as Cheyenne Aplon homered twice – a solo shot in the third and a three-run blast in the fifth – and the visiting Tigers put up six unanswered runs. Hartley scored on a throwing error to make it 6-4, but JSU tacked on seven runs in the sixth to seal it. Aplon (3-for-4, 3 R, 6 RBI) had a two-run double in the decisive inning.
Caitlin McDowell suffered the loss for GSU with five and two thirds innings with 11 hits, 10 earned runs, and five strike outs. Symone Williams got the win for JSU with three innings pitched for two hits, one run, and three strikeouts.
Game two started out much the same with Grambling jumping out to a 4-1 lead in the first inning. Tayler Lenz-Selvera hit a home run to knot things at one-all, and Tia Coleman belted a three-run home run.
JSU began to rally and took the lead scoring a combined five runs over the next four innings, 5-4. Denisha Knight hit a RBI double to start the comeback in the third, and smacked a two-run double in the sixth to cap it. The hometown Lady Tigers were held scoreless but began to rally in the seventh inning. McKenzie Johnson was the last GSU player to cross home plate as Kenyshae Beasley singled up the middle. Beasley was the lead batter going 2-of-4 at the plate. Coleman had the most runs batted in with three.
D’Maria Matthews suffered the loss for Grambling with a complete game pitched for 10 hits, give earned runs and three strike outs. Williams snapped up a second win over GSU with six innings pitched for five hits and one earned run.
In game three, Coleman was the difference for Grambling. After Alexis Hansard hit a RBI double in the first, Beasley tied it after she scored on a throwing error, and Coleman delivered a grand slam to put GSU ahead for good. Haynes added a double in the second inning, and Coleman went yard again – this one a two-run shot – during the third inning to seal it. Jackson State added two runs late, but never made up enough ground.
McDowell got the win, scattering nine hits and two earned runs in a complete game.
Courtesy: Grambling State Sports Information