Lady Tigers defeat Alabama A&M 8-5 in series opener

HOUSTON – The Lady Tigers of Texas Southern University remained undefeated in Southwestern Athletic Conference play Friday after defeating Alabama A&M 8-5.
 
Madi Marek went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and Naomi Reyes pitched a complete game to lead the Lady Tigers (6-19), who are 4-0 and in first place in the SWAC's West Division standings.
 
Reyes allowed just one earned run over seven innings and struck out five batters as she improved her season record to 2-5. She held the visiting Lady Bulldogs hitless in four of the innings she pitched.
 
Meanwhile, Marek collected RBIs in each of her first three at-bats. She knocked an RBI single in the first inning and an RBI double in the third.
 
The Lady Tigers wasted little time taking control of the game, as Zariah Robins led off the game with a single, which was followed by Julia Bilbao knocking a ground-rule double. With one out in the inning, A'Leecia Bell hit a sacrifice fly to score Robins, which was followed by Marek's first RBI to score Bilbao.
 
After Alabama A&M tied the score in the top of the third, the Lady Tigers pushed two runs across the plate in the bottom half of the inning, with Marek's ground-rule double providing the highlight.
 
The Lady Tigers would eventually build an 8-3 lead, but Alabama A&M attempted a rally in the seventh. The Lady Bulldogs scored two runs, aided by two TSU errors, to cut TSU's margin to three before Reyes induced a flyout to end the game.
 
Robins, Tevanae Tate, and Ebony Wiltz each knocked two base hits in the game.
 
The Lady Tigers resume their series with Alabama A&M with a Saturday doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for noon.