TSU Tigers Concludes Play at the Tiger Classic

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- The 2014 Tiger Classic closed out with Tennessee State dropping its final two games. The Tigers came up short in its comeback bid against Dayton. The Flyers held on to a 4-3 win, before Indiana State would step on the field to take a 3-0 decision from the Tigers.

TSU drops to 4-11 as Dayton improved to 3-7 and Indiana State moved to 5-3.

The Tigers found themselves behind right from the start in both games. In the first game, Dayton used a three-run home run to gain the early advantage. TSU would leave five runners on base over the first four innings before they could break through in the fifth.

With one out, the Tigers received three consecutive hits from Courtney Gearlds, Kiarra Freeman and Jayna Hanawahine to load the bases. Lindsey Burgess was able to drive a ball deep enough to center allowing Gearlds to step on home plate and cutting the Flyers lead to 3-1.

Dayton extended the lead back to three with an unearned run in the top of the seventh. With the task in hand, the Tigers started working into the Flyers lead in their final at bat. With one out, Gearlds and Freeman put together back-to-back singles before moving up one base as Hanawahine reached on an error. A Burgess single to centerfield moved all the runners 60-feet, making the score 4-2, as Gearlds crossed home. Kate Morris produced another run for the Tigers with a sacrifice fly to center, plating Freeman to make the score 4-3. That would be as close as the Tigers could get as Rebekka Gross flew out the left field to end the game.

Shea Morris (3-5) worked five innings, picking up four strikeouts opposed to three hits and a walk. Olivia Gamache worked the final two innings surrendering an unearned run on one hit and one walk.

The Tigers outhit Dayton 9-4, but was not able to take advantage of the hit advantage by leaving nine runners on base.

TSU found themselves down after the top of the first inning in the nightcap as the Sycamores manufactured a run off Gamache. The Tigers tried to answer back in the bottom of the first inning, but would strand two runners on base. Four of the final six innings saw the Tigers reach base, only to end each inning empty handed. TSU left six runners on base as the Sycamores held the Tiger lineup to four hits, a walk and a hit batsman.

Indiana State added two more insurance runs in the fifth inning off Gamache. The Sycamores touched the senior hurler for three runs, two earned, on five hits and three walks 4.2 innings. Shea Morris worked the final 2.1 innings fanning two, while giving up a hit to the first batter she faced.

The two strikeouts for Morris gives her 435 in her career, three short of the all-time TSU mark set by Amanda Vaught.

On the weekend, Burgess batted .571, as she finished 8-of-14 with a double, a home run, three walks and four RBI.

The Tigers will travel to Statesboro, Ga., to take part of the Eagle Classic hosted by Georgia Southern. Play begins on Friday, Feb. 28.

2014 Tiger Classic All-Tournament Team

MVP: Taylor Lockwood, Indiana State
Morgan Allee, Indiana State
Erika Crissman, Indiana State
Tiffany Ricks, Dayton
Gabrielle Snyder, Dayton
Miranda Castiglione, Youngstown State
Casey Crozier, Youngstown State
Kelsey Dominik, Temple
Sarah Prezioso, Temple
Sabrina Gamboa, Western Michigan
Lindsey Burgess, Tennessee State 

Tiger Classic - Day One – Results

Game 1 - Dayton 3, Temple 2

Game 2 – Western Michigan 14, Dayton 2

Game 3 - Temple 11, Western Michigan 3 (5)      

Game 4 – Youngstown State 1, Tennessee State 0

Tiger Classic – Day Two – Results

Game 5 – Indiana State 5, Youngstown State 4

Game 6 – Dayton 9, Youngstown State 3

Game 7 – Western Michigan 3, Tennessee State 2

Game 8 – Indiana State 7, Dayton 3

Game 9 – Temple 8, Western Michigan 4

Game 10 – Tennessee State 7, Temple 5

Tiger Classic – Day Three – Results

Game 11 – Youngstown State 5, Western Michigan 1

Game 12 – Indiana State 6, Temple 0

Game 13 – Dayton 4, Tennessee State 3

Game 14 – Indiana State 3, Tennessee State 0

BOX SCORE TSU vs, DAYTON
BOX SCORE TSU vs. INDIANA STATE

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION