Lady Tigers captured their first SWAC Series Win since 2015, defeating Southern University 5-2. GSU Athletics/Courtesy photo
Rikkelle Miller earned the Grambling State University Female Student-Athlete of the Week honor.
The Grambling State women’s softball team finished 2-2 in a four game slate against Northwestern State University and Southern University March 26-30.
Game 1 – Tuesday, March 26
Northwestern State (15-16) led 2-0 entering the bottom of the fifth inning, but Grambling State (12-13) registered three runs on four hits to take a 3-2 lead.
Tyler Robinson led off the fifth inning with a double to right center and advanced to third on a Versace Hicks-Butler bunt single. Kenyshae Beasley reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases. Mckenzie Johnson followed with a single up the middle to score Robinson. After a pitching change, Morgan Adams was hit by a pitch to plate Hick-Butler from third. Rikkelle Miller plated Beasley with a single up the middle.
However, the Lady Demons answered back with a five-run sixth inning to grab a 7-3 victory over the Lady Tigers.
Game 2 – Friday, March 29
The Lady Tigers held off a late rally to earn its first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) victory with a 3-1 win over rival Southern.
After four scoreless innings, GSU broke through with a pair of runs on two hits in the top half of the fifth inning.
With one down in the frame, Tyler Robinson tripled down the right field line and Kenyshae Beasley reached first base on a fielder’s choice. With two outs, Robinson scored when the Lady Jaguars failed to pick off Beasley at second. Morgan Adams came through clutch delivering a two-out hit to right to plate Beasley, giving the Lady Tigers a 2-0 lead. GSU added another run in the seventh inning when Beasley, who reached on a two-out infield hit, scored on a throwing error by the catcher.
Southern (6-15, 4-3) loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Matthews struck out Kameri Mott to end the game.
Game 3 and 4 – Saturday, March 30
The Lady Tigers split Saturday’s doubleheader to rival Southern, losing 11-4 in the first game but taking the second game, 5-2, to earn its first SWAC series win since 2015.
Southern raced out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning of the first matchup.
The Lady Tigers roared back cutting the deficit in half with three runs in the second inning. With two down in the frame, Kenyshae Beasley singled through the left side and stole second. McKenzie Johnson walked and Morgan Adams singled as Beasley and Johnson scored. Rikkelle Miller followed with a base hit to center to score Adams. However, the Lady Jaguars scored one run in the second, two in the third and added two more in the fifth defeating the Lady Tigers, 11-4.
In the second half of the doubleheader, GSU and Southern plated one run each in the third inning, but the Lady Tigers grabbed the lead for good with a pair of runs in the fifth inning.
With two down in the frame, Rikkelle Miller singled through the right side and was lifted for pinch runner Asli Strozier. After Strozier stole second, Tia Coleman homered to left giving GSU a 3-1 lead. The Lady Jaguars cut the deficit to 3-2 with a run in the bottom of the inning, but Southern could not get any closer.
The Lady Tigers plated two runs on three hits in the sixth inning extending the lead to 5-2. Tyler Robinson led off the frame with a homerun to left and with two down, Johnson singled up the middle. Morgan Adams followed with a base hit as Johnson scored.
GSU returns to action this weekend for a three game series against Texas Southern.
The opening pitch is set for 3 p.m. Friday, April 5 at Memorial Park in Houston, Texas.