GRAMBLING, La. - Texas Southern softball split its opener with Grambling State on Friday afternoon in Grambling.
TSU 6, GSU 2
Zaria Turner threw a two-hitter as TSU jumped ahead early and never looked back en route to a 6-2 win over Grambling State in the opener.
Karisma Garcia led the second off with a solo homer and Penelope Saenz tripled to center to score Jade McQueen for the 2-0 lead. Jordyn Talbert led the third off with a solo homer while McQueen scored again on a throwing error in the third to lead 4-0. Grambling State would answer TSU's runs in the bottom frame with two runs but a GSU error paved the way for Destiny Menchaca to score for a 5-2 margin in the fourth. Saenz homered in the fifth for a 6-2 lead to cap off the scoring for the day.
Saenz led TSU with two hits and two RBI, while Turner struck out three while allowing only two hits for the win.
GSU 11, TSU 10
TSU battled back from an early deficit, but a two-out rally by Grambling in the sixth gave them an 11-10 win in game two.
Destiny Menchaca tripled in the first and scored off a throwing error for the early 1-0 lead. Grambling State moved ahead in the bottom frame with two runs but TSU tied it in the second on Kyle Wilson's RBI single.
GSU broke the game open with a six-run second to lead 8-2 but TSU refused to back down with a pair of four-run innings in the fifth and sixth to lead 10-8. TSU scored two runs off a GSU error in the fifth while DaNia Durr and Paris Johnson had RBIs in the fifth. Wilson and Johnson had RBIs in the sixth while TSU moved ahead after a GSU throwing error.
TSU recorded two quick outs to open the sixth but GSU managed to load the bases in the bottom frame and hit a three-RBI double to lead 11-10. GSU recorded a 1-2-3 top of the seventh to claim the win.
Wilson finished 4-for-5 with two RBI while McQueen and Durr went 3-for-5. Menchaca and Saenz both went 2-for-4 while Melonie Guardiola dropped to 2-1 on the season in a relief appearance.
The series concludes Saturday at 12 p.m.
