Lady Braves Notch Triumphant Doubleheader Sweep over Alabama State on the Road

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alcorn State University softball program edged out a 4-3 win in game one before pounding the defending SWAC champions 9-0 in five innings in game two Saturday in a doubleheader sweep over Alabama State at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex.
 
"It was a great job. We played a little uptight in the first game, but hung in there and fought for the win," said Alcorn head coach Josef Rankin. "It's amazing when your players actually see it for themselves that they can be pretty good."
 
With the victories, the Lady Braves (12-23, 9-2 SWAC) move three games ahead of the Hornets (11-25, 6-5 SWAC) and hold the tiebreaker over the SWAC East preseason favorites.
 
"Winning the first one helped us loosen up and we did a great job of getting some hits in scoring position in game two," Rankin said. "Robin did a great job battling in game one, and what an awesome performance by Madi Creed in game two."
 
At the plate, junior Taylor Hughes tallied multi-hit games in both matches. She went a combined four-for-seven on the day with a walk, three runs scored and an RBI. Hughes now has a team-high 16 multi-hit games on the year and is on a 10-game on-base streak and five-game hitting streak. She increased her batting average in conference play to .571 in 11 games.
 
Junior Mariah Ortiz and senior Montana Holyfield also recorded hits in both games.
 
Defensively, the Lady Braves did not make an error in the field in either contest.
 
Game One
The game was tied 2-2 in the seventh inning when Alcorn scored twice and closed it out in the bottom half. Senior Vanessa Sanders knocked in the go-ahead run with one out to score Hughes who singled to left field. Holyfield tacked on an insurance run on a hit to center to plate junior Jessica Crum who reached on a fielder's choice.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the Hornets had runners on first and second with two outs when Charlene Castro singled to left field for an RBI, but the runner at first was thrown out trying to advance to third by left fielder Adriana Gutierrez, a senior, to end the game.
 
Junior Robin Harrison, the reigning SWAC Pitcher of the Week winner, tossed a complete-game. She threw 121 pitches and allowed just three runs.
 
ASU scored a run in the first, but Alcorn quickly responded with two in the second to go up 2-1. Crum and Sanders led off the inning with back-to-back walks, and the Lady Braves loaded the bases with one out after Harrison was hit by a pitch. Alcorn scored both runs on a fielder's choice that resulted in a throwing error by the shortstop which scored Crum and Sanders.
 
The Hornets evened the game 2-2 in the bottom of the second on a double-steal play with runners on first and third. Amira James was credited with stealing home.
 
The contest went scoreless for the next five frames before the seventh inning. Harrison picked up the win to improve her record to 5-5 on the year.
 
Alcorn got to ASU starter Justine Jean early and chased her out of the game after 1.2 innings. Vanessa Bradford threw the next 5.1 frames but took the loss.
 
Game Two
The Lady Braves jumped on the Hornets early with two runs in the first. With two outs, Hughes drew a walk and Crum followed with a bomb to left center. It was her eighth homer of the season.
 
Alcorn kept its foot on the gas with four more runs in the second to leap out in front 6-0. All nine hitters got an at-bat which included RBI's by senior Sametria Collins, Ortiz, Hughes and Crum.
 
The Lady Braves put the nail in the coffin in the fourth with three more tallies to lead 9-0. With the bases loaded and two outs, Holyfield laced an RBI single up the middle, and sophomore Victoria Tyler followed with a hit to center to score two more.
 
Junior Madi Creed fired a five-inning complete-game shutout. She struck out a pair and did not give up a walk. She allowed just four hits and threw 69 pitches. Creed earned her fourth win of the season. It was her eighth complete-game and second shutout.
 
The Hornets sent Jean out to the circle to start for the second straight game, but it was dejavu as she lasted just 1.1 innings and gave up five runs. Her record dropped to 3-12.
 
Up Next
Alcorn, which is riding a five-game winning-streak, will look to complete the three-game series sweep over Alabama State on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
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