Southern University’s softball team started its season with two losses at the Trojan Classic in Troy, Alabama, on Friday. The Jaguars fell to North Alabama 16–4 and Middle Tennessee 11–1 in nonconference games at the Troy Softball Complex.
In the first game, North Alabama took an early lead by scoring three runs in the opening inning and two more in the second. Southern narrowed the gap in the bottom of the second after Izabell Astran hit an RBI single, bringing the score to 5–3. Ava Wallace tripled and scored in the fourth inning to make it 5–4, but North Alabama added a run in the fifth before breaking away with a ten-run sixth inning.
Southern managed six hits during Game 1. Keir Miracle-Tilford led with two hits including a double, while Wallace scored twice and Astran drove in one run. The Jaguars struggled with runners in scoring position, going 1-for-9. Four pitchers saw action for Southern, with Emma Rogers pitching 3.2 innings and recording two strikeouts.
In Game 2 against Middle Tennessee, Southern was held to just three hits as their opponent capitalized on timely hitting and errors. Middle Tennessee scored in four out of five innings, highlighted by a five-run third that included a two-run double and a solo home run.
Katiana Maldonado scored Southern’s only run after reaching base in the third inning. Miracle-Tilford, Jaicee Massey, and Jordynn Jennings each had one hit for Southern. Halle Klaiber pitched for Middle Tennessee and allowed no earned runs over five innings. For Southern, Hayley Hinds, Emma Rogers, Aaliyah Zabala, and Jordynn Jennings all appeared as pitchers.
For further updates on Southern University Athletics or information about upcoming games and results, fans can follow official social media accounts or visit www.gojagsports.com.
