Lady Braves Tied for First in SWAC East Standings after Splitting Doubleheader with MVSU

ITTA BENA, Miss. – After Saturday's results, the Alcorn State University softball program is deadlocked in a three-way tie atop the SWAC East Division standings after splitting a doubleheader 1-7 and 10-1 to Mississippi Valley State at the MVSU Softball Field.
 
Alcorn, Alabama State and Alabama A&M all sit at 9-5 SWAC. The Lady Braves are still attempting to reschedule their final game with the Lady Hornets after splitting the first two but the third was rained out. ASU and AAMU have yet to play each other. Alcorn swept the Bulldogs in a three-game series to hold the tiebreaker.
 
Saturday's action saw the Lady Braves get off to a slow start, but responded with a mercy-rule victory.
 
"We are always trying to win the series, but we fell short with that this weekend. Sometimes, you really have to keep in mind how young our roster is. We are still learning how to approach each series as its own. Records and stats don't matter. Our opponent doesn't care if you swept someone the previous weekend," said head coach Josef Rankin. "We have to do a better job in preparation and really be focused from the start."
 
In the first game, Alcorn registered hits from freshman Amari Ramsey and senior Taylor Hughes. The Lady Braves scored in the third inning on an error as freshman Desirea Lindsey came around to touch home plate.
 
Junior Paige Taylor got the start and threw 1.1 innings. Sophomore Ambria Dorsey turned in a strong performance in relief as she did not allow an earned run in 4.2 frames. Andrea Elmore threw a complete-game for MVSU to pick up the win.
 
Game two was a different story as Alcorn outhit the Delta Devils 11-2 and tallied a pair of four-run innings.
 
"I was extremely proud of how we responded in the final game, extremely proud. We made adjustments at the plate and Lindsey [Eldridge] and Ambria did an awesome job holding them to one run," Rankin said.
 
Junior Victoria Tyler, the reigning SWAC Hitter of the Week winner, went 3-for-4 with three RBI's and a run scored. Lindsey also submitted a three-hit outing including a double and two runs scored. Sophomore Alicia Hill went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
 
In the circle, freshman Lindsey Eldridge got the nod and earned the win after surrendering just one run on two hits in 3.0 innings. Dorsey made another bullpen appearance and fired 2.0 no-hit frames. Alyssa Montes took the loss for MVSU after giving up six earned runs in 4.0 innings.
 
The game was tied 0-0 in the third when Lindsey walked and Hughes singled to put two runners on. Tyler followed with an RBI single to score the first run. Freshman Malea Dickerson came through with a two-RBI knock, and Hill delivered an RBI hit to give Alcorn a 4-0 edge.
 
The Lady Braves kept it going in the fourth with two more runs to increase the advantage to 6-0. After a single by Ramsey and a double by Lindsey, Hughes grounded out for an RBI. Tyler then notched a single to left to score Lindsey.
 
Alcorn poured it on with four runs in the fifth to pull away. The Lady Braves were aided by four errors by the Delta Devilettes. A hit by freshman Ashley Arnold and an RBI single by Tyler highlighted the frame.
 
The Lady Braves are now 10-0 this year when the score at least eight runs in a game.
 
Alcorn hoists a 22-10 SWAC record over the last two years and 33-17 SWAC over the last three years. The Lady Braves are one win away from clinching a winning season in conference for the third consecutive year which has never been done before in program history.
 
The Lady Braves will conclude the regular season at home. They are still owed a home game from Alabama State which has not been finalized, and will play a three-game series starting Thursday against Texas Southern. Alcorn will honor seniors Robin Harrison, Mariah Ortiz and Hughes on Senior Day Friday.
 
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