Lady Braves Run-Rule Grambling in SWAC Opener

LORMAN, Miss. - The Alcorn State University softball program bested Grambling State University 9-1 in five innings Thursday afternoon in its SWAC opener at the Alcorn Softball Complex.

"The team played well. We have been looking forward to getting to conference play after a tough first month and a half or so," said Alcorn head softball coach Josef Rankin. "We started slow but eventually started to swing the bat and score some runs."

Junior Robin Harrison was masterful during her sixth complete game of the season, scattering just two hits and striking out seven during the efficient 62-pitch outing.

"Robin did well by throwing strikes. She's been steadily getting better as the season has gone on. She did a good job of throwing strikes and staying away from walks," said Rankin.

Harrison threw 42 of 62 pitches for strikes and whiffed at least seven for the second straight appearance. She additionally went 3-for-3 at the plate to help her own cause. 

Other Lady Braves with multiple hits including juniors Taylor Hughes and Mariah Ortiz who each had two. Ortiz extended her hitting streak to seven games. 

As Harrison breezed through the first three innings, Alcorn (4-17, 1-0 SWAC) got to GSU (8-17, 0-1 SWAC) starter Caitlin McDowell in the bottom of the third. 

Ortiz walked and Hughes knocked a single to left field and advanced on an error, which put runners on second and third with zero outs. 

Junior catcher Jessica Crum then hit a flyball deep enough to center to advance both runners one base, giving the Lady Braves a 1-0 lead. 

Sophomore third baseman Victoria Tyler then plated Hughes on a single to center field, giving Alcorn a 2-0 edge.

After the Lady Tigers scratched a run in the top of the fourth, the Lady Braves offense put up a five-spot in the next half-inning. 

Hughes smacked a two-RBI double down the left-field line, and Crum followed up with a three-run homer over the center-field fence to pad on to a 7-1 advantage after four. 

Harrison quickly sat GSU down in order in the top of the fifth. 

Alcorn then closed out the game in the bottom half of the fifth inning. 

Senior Sametria Collins, making just her third start at shortstop this season, reached on an infield single and stole second with one out. 

Ortiz then hit a triple that tailed away from the left fielder into the left-field corner, scoring Collins. Hughes ended the contest on a groundout to short that scored Ortiz. 

The Lady Braves return to action Friday in a 1 p.m. doubleheader to close the series against the Lady Tigers.

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