April 6, 2008

Houston, TX - The Southern University softball team defeated the Texas Southern University Lady Tigers in all three Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Divisional games. The first game of the week-end began live on ESPNU but rain caused the game to be suspended in the top of the 3rd inning with SU up 4-0.

Southern (20-13, 9-2 SWAC) was led in Friday's game by senior Courtney Chappell. The four-year starter finished with two hits and two runs. Sophomore Jasmone Williams hit her third homerun of the year that scored two. Pitcher Lanaya Jenkins recorded four strikeouts, eight fly outs and eight groundouts. The game was resumed at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 5th.

In game two of the three-game series, Williams connected on her fourth and fifth homeruns of the year while senior Tiffany Darville hit her first to help the Lady Jaguars take the game 9-4. Williams finished the contest going 2 for 3 with two runs and three RBI's. Darville completed her 18th game of the season with three RBi's, two hits and a run. Freshman Britttany Gillenwater started the game but gave up three runs in the bottom of the first. She ended the game with two strikeouts and a groundout. Sophomore Megan Hodge came in and picked up her second save of the season with five strikeouts and 10 fly outs.

Texas Southern did not want to be swept but the Lady Jaguars were looking for their second SWAC sweep of the year in their third game of the day. The game went scoreless until the top of the third when Lauren Dodd connected on her third homerun of the season with a solo shot over the right field wall. TSU answered back with a run in the bottom of the third to tie the game. The score did not change until the top of the seventh when freshman Victoria Stewart hit her third homerun of the year. The Texarkana, Texas native scored sophomore Brittany Hymes who had singled to get on base. Southern took a 4-2 lead and held the Lady Tigers in the bottom of the seventh to win the game.

Next up Southern will travel to Thibodaux, Louisiana to take on Nicholls State University on Wednesday, April 9th. Game time is set for 5:00 p.m.