UAPB Uses Big Third Inning to Get Past Alcorn in Season Finale

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – One tough inning defensively for the Alcorn State University softball program was enough for Arkansas-Pine Bluff to grab a 9-5 decision Thursday in the SWAC Championships at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex.
 
Alcorn led 3-0 when the Golden Lions scored eight runs in the third inning. UAPB tacked on an insurance run in the sixth.
 
Freshman Amari Ramsey blasted a two-run homer to right center in the seventh for the final 9-5 tally.
 
"I appreciate the contributions from all our players this season and from our seniors. It just didn't end the way we wanted it do, and we didn't play well overall here. We had some spots where we did good things, but when it gets to this point you really have to make plays and we didn't do that," said head coach Josef Rankin. "It's just a matter now of getting back and finding a way to be better, even coach better so that we can perform in these types of tournaments."
 
Senior Taylor Hughes, the SWAC Hitter of the Year and All-Conference First-Team selection, led Alcorn with a 2-for-3 day at the plate including a double. It was her 15th multi-hit game of the year.
 
Hughes ended her four-year career at Alcorn with school-records of 188 hits and 35 doubles. She finished second all-time in program history in both walks (73) and RBI's (108), and third in runs scored (97). Hughes was a SWAC Player of the Year, two-time Hitter of the Year and three-time All-Conference First-Team honoree.
 
The Lady Braves scored three runs in the bottom of the second. It started with back-to-back singles to left by senior Robin Harrison and sophomore Alicia Hill. Freshman Malea Dickerson then laid down a sacrifice bunt that the third baseman threw over the head of the fielder covering first, and Harrison came in to score on the error.
 
Alcorn got its second run on an RBI groundout by freshman Ashley Arnold which plated Hill. The final run came on a sacrifice fly to right by sophomore Ambria Dorsey which scored Dickerson.
 
The Golden Lions quickly answered with their big eight-run frame in the top of the third to go up 8-3. It began after a single, passed ball and RBI hit by Da'Lyn Moody. UAPB got another on a bases loaded walk, and evened it with a hit to left by Kayla Ross. The Golden Lions took the lead on an error after a ground ball went between the legs of an infielder. UAPB scored three more on a fielding error in the infield and a wild pitch. The last run came on another hit by Moody.
 
"We have to move forward and find a way to be more consistent. We have to be better fundamentally. We weren't able to make plays or get outs in that third inning when we needed to," said Rankin. "We can learn from this and use it to develop our program. Somebody has to be able to make the play or make the pitch so that things don't snowball on us. As a coach, I have to do things to help prepare us for these situations."
 
In the seventh, Arnold beat out an infield single. With two outs, Ramsey cranked a two-run shot for her team-high sixth homer of the year.
 
Dorsey got the start in the circle and went 2.1 innings where she allowed two earned runs. Harrison tossed the final 4.2 frames and surrendered just one earned run. Juliana Dominquez threw a complete-game for UAPB to pick up the win.
 
"When you look back at the season, you have to thank Taylor, Mariah [Ortiz] and Robin for their contributions and all that they did for us. Taylor has been with us from the start. We're disappointed with our postseason results, but if you look back at how far we've come from four seasons ago you wouldn't have even thought we'd have these opportunities," Rankin said. "We're in a good spot and we're headed in the right direction. We have a lot of young players that are more experienced now, and we have to learn from this and be better."
 
The Lady Braves ended their season 14-35 overall and 11-7 SWAC. They posted three consecutive winning seasons in conference for the first time in program history and their second straight SWAC East Division title.
 
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