COMMERCE, Texas — Southern University endured a challenging Saturday at John Cain Family Field, dropping two contests to University of St. Thomas and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
 
Game 1: St. Thomas (MN) 11, Southern 2
St. Thomas (9-4) used an explosive first inning to defeat Southern (6-6) 11-2 in five innings.
 
The Tommies opened the game with six runs on six hits in the top of the first, highlighted by three extra-base hits and a pair of sacrifice flies. A leadoff double followed by consecutive run-scoring hits quickly put Southern in an early hole.
 
Southern starter Aaliyah Zabala allowed six earned runs in the opening frame before Emma Rogers entered in relief to stabilize the circle.
 
The Lady Jaguars answered in the bottom of the second inning. Ava Wallace drew a walk and Kira Manganello was hit by a pitch to put runners aboard. Calli Schell drove in Southern's first run on a groundout, and Manganello later scored on a St. Thomas fielding error to trim the deficit to 6-2.
 
Southern threatened to build momentum but managed just two hits in the game, singles from Abigail Mitchell and Manganello, as St. Thomas pitchers Keira Murphy and Mya Tautges combined to limit the offense while striking out six.
 
Rogers delivered 2.1 innings in relief, allowing two runs (none earned), while Hayley Hinds and Chakirrous Parker also saw action in the circle.
 
St. Thomas added two unearned runs in the fourth inning and three more in the fifth, using timely doubles and RBI singles to extend the lead and secure the run-rule victory.
 
Game 2: SIUE 10, Southern 4
Southern showed offensive improvement in the second game but could not overcome an early deficit in a 10-4 loss to SIUE (5-8).
 
SIUE capitalized on control issues in the first inning, scoring six runs with just two hits. Four walks, a hit batter and a sacrifice fly helped fuel the rally before an RBI single capped the frame. The Cougars added another run in the second inning following a defensive miscue to extend the lead to 7-0.
 
Southern broke through in the fourth inning with its strongest offensive stretch of the day. Asia George drew a walk to start the rally before Madison Clark doubled down the left-field line. Ava Wallace followed with an RBI double to score George.
 
Mitchell then delivered the biggest hit of the inning, ripping a two-run double to left field to cut the deficit to 7-3. Laila Clark added an RBI groundout to bring Southern within 7-4.
SIUE responded immediately in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring three runs on four hits, including a two-run double that pushed the lead back to six.
 
Southern continued to put runners on base late, collecting nine hits in the game. George and Mitchell each recorded two-hit performances, while Wallace, Laila Clark, Madison Clark, Darbie Richard and Prestaisha White added hits.
 
Hayley Hinds provided stability in relief, pitching six innings while striking out three after entering during the first inning.
 
Despite several scoring opportunities across the final three innings, Southern was unable to generate another run as SIUE closed out the victory.
 
UP NEXT
Southern will conclude the road trip with games against North Texas and East Texas A&M on Sunday.


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