Pitcher Kenyshae Beasley prepares to throw a pitch against Presbyterian University. GSU Athletics/Courtesy photo
The Lady Tigers softball team competed at the Black and Gold Spring Tournament Feb. 22 and 23 in Montgomery, Ala. GSU completed the tournament with a 2-2 record over four games.
GSU vs. Alabama State
Alabama State started off to a fast start striking a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning and grabbed a run in the fifth to take a 3-0 lead into the sixth.
The Lady Tigers plated a run on three hits in the sixth trimming the gap to 3-1. With two down in the frame, Tia Coleman singled to center and advanced to second when Tyler Robinson reached on an infield hit. Morgan Adams followed with an RBI base hit closing the deficit to 3-1.
However, Tayler Lenz-Selvera lined out to end the inning.
Pitcher D’Maria Matthews recorded the loss for The Tigers.
Grambling State stranded seven runners on base in the matchup, while recording six hits on 27 at bats collectively.
GSU vs. Howard
Howard (2-9) plated two runs in the first inning, but GSU rallied back to cut the deficit to 2-1 with a run in the top half of the third.
Tyra Triplett doubled to center and came in to score when Antiya Randle stole second and was tagged out at third. The Lady Tigers took the lead for good in the 4th inning with three runs on four hits.
Tia Coleman opened the frame with a triple to right field. Morgan Adams singled to put runners on the corners. Coleman stole home and Anaiyah Fultz doubled to center field to plate Adams. With two outs, Triplett singled to right to score Fultz giving GSU a 4-2 lead.
The Bison trimmed the margin to 4-3 with a run in the 6th inning, but the Lady Tigers answered in the top half of the 7th inning.
McKenzie Johnson opened the frame with a base hit and stole second. A ground out by Randle positioned Johnson to third and Andreana Reynolds reached an infield hit as Johnson scored to give the Lady Tigers a 5-3 lead.
GSU ended the night with five runs off eight hits.
Andreana Reynolds and Tia Coleman recorded two stolen bases each on the night en route to the Lady Tigers victory.
GSU vs. Presbyterian
After three scoreless innings, Presbyterian struck for one run to grab a 1-0 lead.
GSU rallied in the top of the 7th inning as Versace Hicks-Butler drew a walk and Kenyshae Beasley came into the game as a pinch runner.
Aniya Randle moved Beasley to third on a sacrifice bunt.
Tia Coleman followed with a base hit up the middle to plate Beasley, tying the game at one apiece.
In the 8th inning, with the tiebreaker rule in effect, Tyler Robinson was placed at second to begin the frame, but was lifted for pinch runner Cameron Ellis.
Morgan Adams moved Ellis to third on a sacrifice bunt for the first out.
Edwenia Foster flied out to right plating Ellis, giving GSU the 2-1 victory.
D’Maria Matthews pitched eight innings and only gave up two runs off two hits to pick up the win for the Lady Tigers.
Kenyshae Beasley and Cameron Ellis each scored runs on the only two GSU hits on the night.
GSU vs. University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC)
The Roos (11-2) scored four runs in the 2nd inning, two in the 6th inning and one in the 7th inning for a 7-0 victory.
The Lady Tigers didn’t register a single hit on the offensive side of the ball going 0-for-22 as a team from behind the plate.
Kenyshae Beasley pitched five innings giving up four runs to register the loss for the Lady Tigers.
The Lady Tigers will return to action this weekend at the HBCU classic in Oklahoma City, Okla.