COMMERCE, Texas - Texas Southern recorded its second consecutive split in contrasting fashions on the second day of the East Texas A&M Leadoff.
SFA 4, TSU 3
TSU's late rally fell short in a 4-3 loss to SFA on Saturday morning.
The Tigers moved ahead 1-0 after the first inning on Karisma Garcia's RBI double which scored Lanay Carr. TSU's defense held its ground in the bottom frame despite SFA loading the bases but SFA broke through in the bottom of the second with a three-run inning to lead 3-1. SFA hit a solo homer in the fourth to lead 4-1 but TSU regrouped in the fifth with a two-run frame on Destiny Menchaca's RBI single and Carr's sac fly. The Tigers had two opportunities to tie or take the lead late in the final two innings but had a runner thrown out at home in the sixth and a runner caught stealing in the seventh.
Penelope Saenz led TSU with a 2-for-2 outing while Menchaca, Garcia and Carr had an RBI. Zaria Turner went the distance and struck out four on the mound.
TSU 9, ST. BONAVENTURE 1
DaNia Durr drove in three RBI as TSU closed out the day with a 9-1 run-rule win over St. Bonaventure.
With two outs in the second, Durr's two-RBI single moved TSU ahead 2-0 as Karisma Garcia and Penelope Saenz both scored. St. Bonaventure crossed home a run in the third but TSU answered to lead 3-1 as KateLynn Cooper led the inning off with a double and eventually scored on Lanay Carr's sac fly. The TSU defense held off a potential St. Bonaventure rally in the fourth as runners advanced to second and third with only out. However, starter Melonie Guardiola forced a lineout and groundout to end the threat.
TSU put the game out of reach in the fifth as Saenz and Jordyn Talbert led the inning off with singles which led to Durr driving in pinch runner Zariah London for a 4-1 lead. Marisa Perla singled home Talbert to lead 5-1 which forced a pitching change but TSU kept the pressure on with another run to force another pitching chang and a 6-1 lead. Once again, the change didn't matter as Garcia welcomed the reliever with an RBI single to keep the bases loaded. Jade McQueen and Saenz both drew bases loaded walks as the lead grew to 9-1. TSU closed out the bottom frame with a scoreless inning to trigger the run-rule.
Durr finished 2-for-3 with three RBI followed by Carr's two RBI. Cooper was 2-for-2 with two runs scored while Guardiola struck out four in five innings of action.
TSU is back in action for its tourney finale tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. against host East Texas A&M live on ESPN+.
