After leaving runners stranded every inning, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff finally broke through in the sixth inning Sunday afternoon.
The UAPB softball team rallied to defeat Grambling State 4-3 in the first game of a doubleheader at the Torii Hunter Softball Complex in Pine Bluff.
Grambling (6-15, 1-3 SWAC) led 3-0 midway through the sixth inning after scoring a run in the third and two in the fifth. The Lady Lions had seven hits to this point but had stranded 10 baserunners.
UAPB (4-15, 2-3) scored 4 runs in the bottom of the sixth. With runners on second and third base with one out, third baseman Janai Mathis singled to score right fielder Angelina Rivas for UAPB’s first run. Shortstop Amari Broughton followed by reaching on an error as center fielder Chasney Cooper scored.
RBI singles from left fielder Ariana Gonzalez and catcher Kaitlyn Neely gave UAPB the lead. Starting pitcher Kayla Adams (3-6) retired the Lady Tigers in order in the top of the seventh to end the game.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
UAPB coach Michael Bumpers said the sixth-inning breakthrough came after the Lady Lions adjusted their approach at the plate.
“We told everybody to shorten up, use no stride,” Bumpers said. “You shorten up, no stride, hands straight to the ball, and the results were those hits that we got. It’s something that we’re trying to make them make the adjustments on their own, but sometimes, the coach gotta step in and let them know, hey, this is what needs to be done.”
In seven innings, Adams allowed 2 earned runs on four hits. She struck out nine batters and walked six. GSU pitcher Audrey Richardson (2-2) allowed 1 earned run on 10 hits with one strikeout and three walks in six innings.
UAPB’s eighth and ninth hitters, Rivas and Cooper, reached base in each of their plate appearances. Rivas hit 2 for 2 with a walk, while Cooper hit 1 for 1 with a walk and fielder’s choice. Each scored once. They reached base to lead off the sixth inning before leadoff hitter Allyncia King bunted them into scoring position for Mathis to begin the rally.
Once Rivas and Cooper reached base, the rest of the lineup came to the plate to see Richardson’s pitchers for the fourth time. Rivas said this time through the lineup, the Lady Lions finally got their timing right against her.
“It’s been kind of hard for us to string hits together,” Rivas said. “Finally proving that we can have clutch hitting just boosts our confidence. Going into tomorrow, I think we’re going to do good.”
Grambling 14, UAPB 3 (5 inn.)
Grambling pounced on UAPB early in game two to even the series with a 14-3 win in five innings.
The Lady Tigers chased UAPB starter Danika Bryant (1-5) with two outs in the first inning. She allowed 4 runs, 2 earned, on three hits and a walk before handing the ball to Heidi Price.
A 6-3-5 double play prevented GSU from scoring in the second inning, but the Lady Tigers plated 7 runs in the third. Price allowed 4 runs before reliever Traelen Humphrey took over. A bases-loaded triple from right fielder Kam Broussard made it 11-1.
GSU added 2 runs in the fourth and 1 in the fifth. Humphrey exited the game in the fifth after being hit by a line drive, so Kamea Seunarine entered the game to record the final two outs.
Lady Tigers starter Erin Gibbs (3-4) allowed 3 runs on seven hits and a walk with four strikeouts in five innings. Rivas hit 2 for 2 with an RBI and a run to lead UAPB. She led off the bottom of the fifth with a single and later scored as the Lady Lions scored 2 runs in the final frame.
Rivas entered the series hitting 5 for 38 (.132). Between Sunday’s two games, she hit 4 for 4 with an RBI and 2 runs.
Bumpers said she has played well this season, even if the numbers haven’t shown it.
“She’s had a lot of hard-hit balls right at people all season long,” Bumpers said. “She started off hot at the beginning of the year, kind of cooled off a little bit. She’s one of those players that’s a quiet leader, and she’s going to be big for us.”