HOUSTON — Grambling State University was swept in a three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference softball series over the weekend, dropping all three contests to Texas Southern University at Turner Park.
Texas Southern (28-10) opened the series Friday with a 12-0 victory before completing the sweep Saturday with 2-1 and 9-1 wins in a doubleheader. Grambling State fell to 14-28 overall.
The Lady Tigers were most competitive in Saturday’s opener, getting a complete-game effort from Jaidan Richard in a narrow loss. Richard allowed two runs on six hits over seven innings after Texas Southern scored both of its runs in the first inning on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single.
Grambling State threatened in the seventh when Kamryn Broussard reached and later scored on an RBI hit by Alexis Hope, trimming the margin to 2-1. The rally ended there as Texas Southern held on.
Hope continued a productive weekend at the plate, collecting a hit and driving in Grambling’s lone run in the opener. Broussard and Cadashia Collins also added hits.
Texas Southern broke open the second game Saturday with three unearned runs in the second inning and three more in the third to seize control on the way to a 9-1 victory.
Hailei Harrell took the loss after allowing six runs, three earned, in 2 1/3 innings. Grambling State used three pitchers in the contest.
The Lady Tigers managed four hits in the finale, with Z’Natria Evans, Broussard, Tavia Leadon and Collins each recording one.
Friday’s series opener was decided early as Texas Southern scored four runs in the first inning and four more in the second to build an 8-0 lead. The Tigers added four runs in the fourth to invoke the run rule.
Grambling State collected five hits but could not solve Texas Southern pitcher Zaria Turner, who fired a complete-game shutout with six strikeouts.
Hope led Grambling in the opener by going 2 for 2. Logan-Ray Gaspar, Broussard and Leadon each added a hit. Erin Gibbs took the loss after allowing eight runs in 1 1/3 innings. Richard worked the final 2 2/3 innings in relief.
Across the three games, Hope was one of Grambling State’s most consistent hitters, while Richard’s strong outing in Saturday’s first game gave the Lady Tigers a chance to salvage a win.
Grambling State will look to regroup in conference play as the regular season enters its final stretch.
