Alcorn Splits Doubleheader with KSU

VICKSBURG, Miss. – After a tight 3-2 decision ended in Kentucky State's favor, the Alcorn State University softball program responded with an 8-4 victory in game two of the doubleheader Thursday evening at Vicksburg High School.
 
Senior Taylor Hughes tallied a pair of hits in each of the two games for the Lady Braves (1-3). She's up to 146 hits in her career and is five shy of tying the all-time school record of 151 set by Amber Steeves from 2005-08.
 
Also with multi-hit outings, senior Mariah Ortiz ripped three hits in game two with a run scored and an RBI, and freshman Bri Smith went two-for-two with a double, two runs scored and a pair of RBI in the contest.
 
"Tonight, we just had to keep fighting. We've been a little tense these first few games and hopefully the win in game two will relax us so we can play a little bit faster and looser," said head coach Josef Rankin. "When you look at the lineup, we have a returner at first base, third base and center field, and that's it. I think our players are worried about making mistakes when they should just be trying to get at it. Our swings got better as the night went along, and once we figure it out we're going to be in really good shape."
 
The Lady Braves are now 16-2 all-time against KSU (1-1) and 7-1 under Rankin.
 
Game One: KSU 3, Alcorn 2
The Lady Braves got on the board first in the third inning on a two-out base hit to left field by junior Victoria Tyler. It plated Ortiz after she walked and advanced to second on a hit up the middle by Hughes.
 
The Thorobreds answered in the very next frame with two runs on three hits. Adrix Paradizo-Ramos tallied a one-out single to right which scored two runs.
 
The Lady Braves tied it up in the bottom of the fourth on a one-out RBI double down the left field line by senior Bre Glenn. It scored sophomore Alicia Hill who reached on an infield single to third.
 
KSU scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning on an unearned play that resulted in two errors. With two outs, Jittaun Thompson walked and stole second. While on second, the Alcorn catcher attempted to pick her off while she was going back to the base after a pitch but the ball got away; as Thompson raced for third, the Alcorn second baseman threw it over the third baseman's head and out of play which awarded Thompson home.
 
Alcorn had one last chance in the seventh with two outs and runners on first and second, but KSU's pitcher Paola Flores was able to force a ground out to second to end the game.
 
Flores picked up the win after throwing all seven innings. She allowed six hits and struck out one. Junior Paige Taylor took the loss for Alcorn after allowing two earned runs in seven innings with a strikeout.
 
Game Two: Alcorn 8, KSU 4.
Similar to game one, Alcorn got on the board first and KSU fired back with two runs. Alcorn's tally came in the second inning on a two-out double to the left by Smith. The inning started with a single through the left side by freshman Amari Ramsey, and she was replaced on first by freshman Ashley Arnold after a fielder's choice. Arnold stole second and scored on the double.
 
After the Thorobreds scored two in the fourth on four hits, the Lady Braves quickly erased the deficit with three in the bottom half. Alcorn garnered RBI singles by Smith, Ortiz and freshman Desirea Lindsey to take a 4-2 advantage.
 
KSU didn't go away and came back with two runs in the top of the fifth to tie it 4-4. It came on a two-out double to right center by Chante Thome.
 
The Lady Braves broke it open and pulled away with four runs in the sixth. They got it started with a walk from Smith and a bunt single by Ortiz. After a sacrifice bunt by Lindsey moved the runners over, Hughes laced a ball to center to score two runs. After senior Robin Harrison walked, the Lady Braves had runners on second and third with two outs after a wild pitch. KSU nearly got out of it after a ground ball to second, but the first baseman dropped the throw which allowed Hughes and Harrison to score as Alcorn went up 8-4.
 
Sophomore Ambria Dorsey came in to pitch in the seventh inning and tossed a 1-2-3 inning to seal the win.
 
Freshman Lindsey Eldridge got the start and threw 4.1 innings. She was given a no-decision after allowing three earned runs and striking out six. Junior Winter Ridgeway entered in relief and tossed 1.2 scoreless innings to pick up the win and improve to 1-1 on the year.
 
Kaija Aikman was handed the loss for the Thorobreds after pitching the final two frames and giving up four runs, two earned. Thome started for KSU and allowed four runs in 4.0 innings.
 
The Lady Braves did not strike out a single time at the plate in the second game.
 
Alcorn will play its home opener at the Alcorn Softball Complex on Tuesday against Nicholls State in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
 
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