BEAUMONT, Texas – The Alcorn State University softball program pushed Lamar University to its limits as the Cardinals needed a walk-off hit in game one to prevail in a doubleheader Tuesday at the LU Softball Complex.
Game 1 – LU 8, Alcorn 7
While the Cardinals (17-15) reigned victorious, the Lady Braves (7-23) held a 14-10 advantage in the hits column. Every student-athlete in Alcorn's starting lineup recorded at least one hit.
LU scratched a run in the bottom of the first inning on a two-out triple by Kelly Meeuwsen.
The Lady Braves countered with two runs in the third and fourth innings to go ahead 4-1.
In the third, unior
Jessica Crum reached on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded and a throwing error by the Cardinals second baseman allowed another runner to score.
Senior
Sametria Collins commenced the one-out rally in the fourth with a double down the left-field line. Junior
Mariah Ortiz then pulled a triple to the right-centerfield gap to score Collins. Ortiz advanced home on a single to left field from junior
Taylor Hughes.
LU added a run in the fourth before the Lady Braves padded on two more runs in the top of the fifth to take a 6-2 edge. Senior
Adriana Gutierrez hit an infield single and trekked all the way around the bases after a misplay by the pitcher allowed her and junior
Bre Glenn to advance home.
Senior
Madison Chitwood singled in the sixth to score Crum and give Alcorn another insurance run and a 7-2 lead.
The Cardinals, however, would scratch three runs in each of the next two innings to steal the victory.
Junior
Robin Harrison (3-5) took the loss in the circle, allowing nine hits and seven runs (five earned) in the outing.
LU ace Ciara Luna (5-9) struck out five hitters during three innings of relief to earn the win.
Game 2 – LU 9, Alcorn 1 (5 inn.)
The Lady Braves managed just three hits in the second contest. One of those came on a two-out double in the first inning by Crum that scored Hughes who walked earlier in the frame.
Collins hit a single through the left side to start the third, and Creed singled with two outs in the fifth to conclude Alcorn's offensive output.
The Cardinals tallied nine runs on 11 hits highlighted by a seven-run third inning.
Freshman
Ambria Dorsey (0-7) allowed eight runs in 2.2 innings as the starter.
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Crum extended her hitting streak to six games and reached base streak to 13.
The Lady Braves will host in-state rival Jackson State University in a three-game series beginning Friday at 3 p.m. CT at the Alcorn Softball Complex.
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