Tennessee State University’s softball team completed a doubleheader at Betty Basler Field in Johnson City, Tennessee, on Saturday, facing Bowling Green and East Tennessee State.
In the first game, Tennessee State struggled against Bowling Green and lost 12–0. The Tigers managed two hits, both doubles by Mariyah Brown and Jace Jackson. Brown went 1-for-2 while Jackson finished 1-for-3. The Tigers threatened to score in the fifth inning when Brown reached third base with one out but could not convert. Pitchers Kristian Holder, Courtney Richardson, and Miriam Gordon faced 34 batters and combined for nine ground-ball outs and seven fly-ball outs.
The second game saw a stronger offensive effort from Tennessee State despite an 8–7 loss to East Tennessee State. The Tigers scored twice in the first inning, with Jakeyla McDaniel stealing three bases to help fuel the early offense. They added another run in the second inning for a 3–0 lead.
Jace Jackson led at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance that included a triple, a walk, and an RBI. Jasmine Blackburn contributed a hit, two walks, and an RBI; Mariyah Brown drove in two runs. As a team, Tennessee State stole five bases and drew seven walks while going 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
After losing their lead to ETSU, the Tigers mounted a comeback attempt in the seventh inning. Down by four runs entering their final at-bat, they rallied for three runs as Brown delivered a two-RBI single that brought them within one run of tying the game before falling short.
Pitcher Tianna Salcido started for TSU in game two as the staff held ETSU hitters to just three hits in eighteen chances with runners in scoring position.
Tennessee State aims to use this experience as it continues its early-season schedule.
