Lady Braves Commence SWAC Play with Sweep over Grambling

LORMAN, Miss. - The Alcorn State University softball program swept its opening conference series for the second straight season as it downed Grambling State University 6-3 and 4-0 in a doubleheader Friday afternoon at the Alcorn Softball Complex.

"I was very proud of the fact that we just stuck with it. We did not panic or anything like that," said Alcorn head softball coach Josef Rankin. "We always talk about 18 opportunities and those were the first three."

The Lady Braves (6-17, 3-0 SWAC) pitching rotation was phenomenal, allowing just five runs (one earned) during the three-game stint. 

"The pitchers did great. They've been having some tough lessons, tough games early on. They did a great job today throwing strikes and making [GSU] put the ball in play," said Rankin.

Alcorn 6, Grambling 3

Junior Madi Creed (2-4) tossed her fifth complete game of the season, did not allow an earned run and struck out four as Alcorn toppled Grambling in the second game of the three-game series. 

Five Lady Braves recorded hits including junior Jessica Crum who finished with two. 

A throwing error allowed the Lady Tigers to get on the board with two runs in the top of the second inning after a bases-loaded single followed by a walk.

Grambling added another unearned run in the fourth as the leadoff batter, Kenyshae Beasley, singled to left and advanced to second on an error. Lady Tigers right fielder Hailey Haynes then drove home Beasley on a single down the left-field line to put GSU ahead 3-0. 

Alcorn had runners on first and second with none out in the fourth but failed to move them over after back-to-back unsuccessful bunt attempts. Crum eventually scored after a fielding error to cut into the deficit at 3-1.

The Lady Braves added three runs in the bottom of the fifth, highlighted by a two-RBI triple to right-center field from junior Robin Harrison. Sophomore Victoria Tyler then plated Harrison on a single through the left side to put Alcorn ahead 4-3. 

Alcorn added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth as Creed retired 11 of the final 12 batters she faced en route to the win. 

Alcorn 4, Grambling 0 

Senior Jazmin Castillo and freshman Ambria Dorsey combined for the seven-inning shutout as the Lady Braves completed the sweep over GSU (8-19. 0-3 SWAC). 

Junior outfielder Mariah Ortiz extended her hitting streak to nine and has recorded multiple hits in three of the last four games.

Dorsey picked up her first save of her career, scattering just two hits in 2.2 innings of work.

Ortiz commenced the bottom half of the first inning with a triple that flew over the centerfielder and pegged the fence after a few bounces. Junior first baseman Taylor Hughes then advanced Ortiz on a one-out single to left center, putting Alcorn ahead 1-0 early. 

Castillo allowed just five hits in the contest. After a bunt single put runners on first and third with one out in the fifth, Dorsey was called to the circle and retired the next two Lady Tigers via flyout in just five pitches. 

Hughes mashed a bases loaded two-out double to left-center that cleared the bases in the bottom of the sixth and gave Alcorn three more insurance runs. 

GSU had a runner reach third with two outs in the seventh, but Dorsey retired Mercedes Williams to conserve the shutout. 

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The Lady Braves host Southeastern Louisiana University Tuesday in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. CT.

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