Box Score courtesy of www.swac.org


HOUSTON, Texas- The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Lady Lions softball team did what no other team in the Southwestern Athletic Conference could do. After dropping the first two games in the series, the Lady Lions defeated Texas Southern University by the score of 4 to 0 to hand the Lady Tigers its first conference loss.


Arkansas-Pine Bluff 4, Texas Southern 0

Juliana Dominguez (5-5) threw a four-hit shutout as Arkansas-Pine Bluff handed Texas Southern its first loss in Southwestern Athletic Conference play this season by a score of 4-0 at Memorial Park.

After both sides stranded two runners each in the second inning, the Lady Lions (13-22, 9-5) broke through at the expense of TSU starter Lauren Rodriguez. Toni Martinez and Tonnay Hawkins hit back-to-back doubles, with the latter scoring Martinez. After Hawkins advanced to third on a passed ball, Shanice Akins laid down a sac bunt that pushed Hawkins across home plate.

In what became a theme for the day, Texas Southern (17-9-1, 8-1) was unable to bring runners home despite getting them on base. Texas Southern stranded two runners in the third -- and though Jasmin Fulmore was able to work out of a bases-loaded jam in relief of Rodriguez -- the Lady Tigers squandered a fifth-inning chance where they had runners on second and third with no outs. 

Martinez and Ta'Lyn Moody each picked up RBI singles in the sixth, and Dominguez retired the final six batters she faced for the complete-game win.

Hawkins, Martinez and Kayla Ross each had two hits for UAPB. Rodriguez was charged with the loss -- her first of the season -- after a 3.1 inning outing where she allowed four hits, two runs (one earned) and fanned three.

Jocilynn Ellis was 2-for-3 to lead TSU.

UAPB (13-22, 9-5 SWAC) returns to action on Tuesday, April 17 as it travels to Louisiana to face the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters in Ruston. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at the Lady Techster Softball Complex.