The Tennessee State University softball team played a doubleheader against SIUE on April 25, falling in both games at Tiger Field during Senior Weekend. The Tigers lost the first game 5-3 and the second game 7-2.
The games were important as part of the Ohio Valley Conference series and marked a significant event for graduating seniors. In the first game, Tennessee State took an early lead after Jasmine Blackburn reached base and Jace Jackson hit an RBI triple. Hailey Hunt added a sacrifice fly, giving TSU a 2-0 advantage. Despite steady pitching and defensive efforts, SIUE tied the score in the third inning. Jackson later delivered an RBI double in the sixth inning to narrow the deficit, but TSU could not complete the comeback.
Jackson led offensively with two hits and all three RBIs for Tennessee State in game one. Chelsi Ervin started as pitcher, with Courtney Richardson and Tianna Salcido also appearing on the mound.
In game two, after SIUE scored early runs, Tennessee State responded in the second inning with hits from Richardson, Noelani Wilkerson, Mariyah Brown, and JaKeyla McDaniel driving in a run. Kailyn Jean-Baptist contributed an RBI triple in the fifth inning that brought home Hunt. Wilkerson and Brown each had multiple hits while McDaniel added two hits and one RBI.
Kristian Holder started as pitcher for TSU in game two; Miriam Gordon pitched middle innings before Salcido finished out relief duties.
Tennessee State will conclude its Senior Weekend on Sunday with one more conference matchup against SIUE at Tiger Field. The final home appearance will include recognition of graduating players prior to first pitch.
