TSU softball scored three runs in the first inning and rode its defense the rest of the way en route to a 3-0 win over SFA on Tuesday at Memorial Park.
TSU struck first in the bottom of the first as Marisa Perla walked followed by Penelope Saenz's single to left. Perla would score on Dania Durr's well-placed hit into right field for a 1-0 lead. Both Lanay Carr and Karisma Garcia were hit by pitches to load the bases as Carr's hit led to Saenz scoring for a 2-0 lead. SFA threw a wild pitch during Kadriana Mincey's at-bat as TSU led 3-0.
TSU had a pair of runners on in both the second and third frames but couldn't capitalize. Defensively, starter Miranda Pena continued to pitch her way out of jams as she recorded a big inning-ending strikeout with two runners on in the fifth as SFA was in the heart of its lineup. In the sixth, Pena came up huge once again in the sixth with two runners on and two outs as she struck out the final better to hold on to the lead.
SFA led the seventh off with a single but the TSU defense recorded consecutive fielder choices followed by a pop out to Durr to end the contest.
Pena earned her fifth win with a four-strikeout performance while six Tigers recorded hits.
TSU is back in action on Friday at 3 p.m. against Alcorn State at Memorial Park.
