GRAMBLING, La. – Another Saturday, another pair of wins for Lauren Rodriguez.
The senior pitcher won started and won both games of Texas Southern's doubleheader Saturday as the Lady Tigers defeated Grambling State by scores of 11-0 and 9-1. Rodriguez matched the results of her previous outings, when she picked up two victories in the circle in TSU's doubleheader sweep of Jackson State last Saturday.
TSU (15-6-1) made quick work of its fellow SWAC West Division opponent, winning both games in five innings. The Lady Tigers remained undefeated in Southwestern Athletic Conference play with a 6-0 league record.
The quick games it possible for Rodriguez to start and win both games. She pitched a total of seven innings and needed only 85 pitches to complete the task. By day's end, Rodriguez had lowered her ERA to 1.54 and improved her won-loss record 8-0.
Game One: TSU 11, Grambling 0
Rodriguez allowed just hit while her teammates scored 11 runs on eight hits and took advantage of three Grambling errors in the opener. The pitcher struck out five batters and allowed just one hit in the second inning.
Texas Southern took advantage of a pair of Grambling errors in the second inning to score their first four runs despite not recording a hit or RBI in the inning.
The visiting Lady Tigers produced the first run of their own when A'Leccia Bell was hit by a pitch to lead off the third inning, stole second base, and then scored Sierra Valdez' RBI double. Valdez' hit was the first of four two-base hits that scored runs in the inning, as Madilynn Marek, Tevanae Tate, and Julia Bilbao also knocked RBI doubles.
Jocilynn Ellis' RBI groundout that scored Bilbao stretched TSU's lead to 9-0 after three innings. Pinch hitter Coren Davis knocked a two-RBI single in the fourth inning that plated Clarissa Santos and Danielle Sonnier to cap the scoring in Saturday's opener.
Game Two: TSU 9, Grambling 1
TSU continued to hit the ball in the second game, as the Lady Tigers jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first two innings. A three-run home run by Tate – the first of her collegiate career – highlighted a five-run first inning.
In the second inning, Valdez matched the feat with a three-run home run of her own. It was her second home run of the season, and raised her team-leading batting average to .412 for the season.
Rodriguez struck out four batters in three innings of work. Because TSU kept its eight-run advantage, Rodriguez was credited for the win when the contest ended after five innings. Tyra Williams pitched two innings of no-hit relief, with GSU's only baserunner against her coming on a TSU error.
Up Next
The Lady Tigers are at home for their next seven contests, starting with a doubleheader against Incarnate Word on Tuesday. First pitch in the opening game is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics
The senior pitcher won started and won both games of Texas Southern's doubleheader Saturday as the Lady Tigers defeated Grambling State by scores of 11-0 and 9-1. Rodriguez matched the results of her previous outings, when she picked up two victories in the circle in TSU's doubleheader sweep of Jackson State last Saturday.
TSU (15-6-1) made quick work of its fellow SWAC West Division opponent, winning both games in five innings. The Lady Tigers remained undefeated in Southwestern Athletic Conference play with a 6-0 league record.
The quick games it possible for Rodriguez to start and win both games. She pitched a total of seven innings and needed only 85 pitches to complete the task. By day's end, Rodriguez had lowered her ERA to 1.54 and improved her won-loss record 8-0.
Game One: TSU 11, Grambling 0
Rodriguez allowed just hit while her teammates scored 11 runs on eight hits and took advantage of three Grambling errors in the opener. The pitcher struck out five batters and allowed just one hit in the second inning.
Texas Southern took advantage of a pair of Grambling errors in the second inning to score their first four runs despite not recording a hit or RBI in the inning.
The visiting Lady Tigers produced the first run of their own when A'Leccia Bell was hit by a pitch to lead off the third inning, stole second base, and then scored Sierra Valdez' RBI double. Valdez' hit was the first of four two-base hits that scored runs in the inning, as Madilynn Marek, Tevanae Tate, and Julia Bilbao also knocked RBI doubles.
Jocilynn Ellis' RBI groundout that scored Bilbao stretched TSU's lead to 9-0 after three innings. Pinch hitter Coren Davis knocked a two-RBI single in the fourth inning that plated Clarissa Santos and Danielle Sonnier to cap the scoring in Saturday's opener.
Game Two: TSU 9, Grambling 1
TSU continued to hit the ball in the second game, as the Lady Tigers jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first two innings. A three-run home run by Tate – the first of her collegiate career – highlighted a five-run first inning.
In the second inning, Valdez matched the feat with a three-run home run of her own. It was her second home run of the season, and raised her team-leading batting average to .412 for the season.
Rodriguez struck out four batters in three innings of work. Because TSU kept its eight-run advantage, Rodriguez was credited for the win when the contest ended after five innings. Tyra Williams pitched two innings of no-hit relief, with GSU's only baserunner against her coming on a TSU error.
Up Next
The Lady Tigers are at home for their next seven contests, starting with a doubleheader against Incarnate Word on Tuesday. First pitch in the opening game is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics