GSU rallies past Southern 4-3 in walk-off fashion

GRAMBLING — The Grambling State Lady Tigers softball team avenged losses in games one and two by scoring four unanswered runs en route to a 4-3 thrilling victory in walk-off fashion over the Southern Lady Jaguars in game three of the Southwestern Athletic Conference series at the GSU Softball Complex.

After having its original weekend series postponed, the Lady Tigers softball team had its two-game win streak snapped in a 5-2 loss in game one against Southern in Southwestern Athletic Conference action at the GSU Softball Complex.

In game two of the doubleheader, GSU redshirt freshman pitcher Payton Shells (4-2) earned her fourth win of the season in dramatic fashion in extra innings.

The Lady Tigers trailed 3-0 in the third inning, but quickly responded to adversity with a run in the fourth inning via a double steal when pinch hitter Rodjahnae Dupont-Barlow baited the Lady Jags defense by advancing to second, allowing the speedster India Wells to steal home, cutting the deficit to 3-1.

Grambling added two additional runs in the fifth inning when redshirt freshman catcher Nyah Jones produced a 2-RBI double that scored teammates Kaylee Nettles and Anaiyah Fultz, bringing the score to 3-3.

After two straight scoreless innings for both sides, Grambling (7-10 overall, 4-4 SWAC) had its best chance to end the game in extra innings with the bases loaded in the eighth inning. During the next at-bat, redshirt sophomore Antiya Randle hit a ground ball to shortstop and reached first base on a fielder’s choice, but the gamewinning run, Wells, was thrown out at home.

With two outs and the bases still loaded, redshirt junior outfielder Morgan Adams grounded out to second base, ending the threat and leaving three Grambling batters stranded.

After another scoreless inning from Southern, “Coco” Fultz connected beautifully for a double as she sent the ball to left field. Then, fellow Lady Tiger Nettles executed a crucial sacrifice bunt which advanced Fultz to third base. On the next at-bat, red-shirt freshman Tytianna Robinson calmly stepped to the plate and generated a walk-off RBI with a grounder to the outfield, giving the Lady Tigers the victory in extra innings as Fultz scored the game-winning run.

Fultz finished 4-for-5 at the plate and scored a total of two runs, both good for game-highs while teammate Jones added a game-high 2-RBI for the Lady Tigers, who as a team finished with a total of 12 runners left on base.

Grambling State will host Texas Southern in a SWAC weekend series beginning on Friday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at the GSU Softball Complex.??