MONTGOMERY, Ala. – In a wild first round game of the 2018 SWAC Championships, the Alcorn State University softball program trailed 3-1 when it came back to score seven runs in the sixth inning, but Southern answered with six runs in the seventh to snatch a 9-8 result Wednesday at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex.
"That hasn't happened to us as far as I can remember, having a lead like that in the last inning, but we couldn't find a way to get the final out. We made some mistakes and didn't make some good decisions in that inning, but you have to credit Southern for not quitting," said head coach
Josef Rankin. "We gave ourselves a chance in our last inning, but it's heartbreaking. We just couldn't find a way to get the third out before they scored that ninth run."
Alcorn (14-34, 11-7 SWAC), the top seed from the SWAC East Division, put together a string of two-out hits to grab an 8-3 advantage heading to the final frame. Senior
Robin Harrison and sophomore
Alicia Hill both got hits to load the bases. Freshman
Malea Dickerson cut the deficit to 3-2 with an RBI hit through the right side.
The first blow came on a shot up the middle by freshman
Ashley Arnold to give the Lady Braves a 4-3 advantage. Still with two outs, senior
Mariah Ortiz, an All-Conference First-Team selection, ripped a two-RBI double down the left field line to increase the lead to 6-3. Freshman
Amari Ramsey smashed a triple to right to plate another to make it 7-3. The final tally came on an RBI single through the right side by freshman
Desirea Lindsey for an 8-3 edge.
The Lady Braves recorded two outs in the top of the seventh before Southern (17-21, 8-9 SWAC), the No. 4 seed from the West Division, responded with six runs. After a two-RBI single by Jamani Greer and a two-run homer by Jazmine Dukes, Alcorn was still one out away leading 8-7. The Jags continued the inning with three more singles, sandwiched around an error and a stolen base to go up 9-8.
"It was just a weird inning. There were a lot of balls bouncing off gloves and I just hadn't ever seen anything like it. I don't want to say we were cursed, but the ball was bouncing in all different ways and it didn't go our way," Rankin said.
Alcorn had one last chance in the bottom of the seventh. After Harrison walked and Hill singled, the Lady Braves had two runners on with one out. After a fielder's choice put runners on the corners with two outs, Southern's Aubrion James recorded a groundout to end the game.
"We just have to find a way to get back at it and get past this one," Rankin said. "It was a very tough loss, but all we can do now is come back tomorrow and try to find a way to win."
Hill led the Lady Braves at the plate with three hits and a run scored. It was her first career three-hit game and her seventh multi-hit game. Junior
Victoria Tyler also knocked a pair of hits including a double.
Harrison got the start in the circle and received a no-decision after tossing 3.1 frames. Junior
Winter Ridgeway, who was named to the All-Conference Second-Team, took the loss after firing the final 3.2 innings. James was credited the win for the Jaguars after throwing 7.0 frames.
The Jags opened the scoring with a run in the first. It came on a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded, but the Lady Braves were able to get out of the jam down just 1-0 after a foul out to first.
Alcorn quickly evened it 1-1 with a run in the bottom half. Freshman
Amari Ramsey walked to start it off and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Senior
Taylor Hughes, the SWAC Hitter of the Year and All-Conference First-Team honoree, came through with an RBI hit to center to tie it.
SU regained the lead 2-1 in the third. With one out and a runner on third, a seeing-eye infield single past the pitcher plated the run.
The Jags added a tally in the fourth to go up 3-1. It came on a one-out RBI single to center by Scarlett Brock.
SU held to a 3-1 lead before Alcorn plated seven runs in the sixth.
Alcorn will look to bounce back Thursday when it takes on Arkansas-Pine Bluff at noon. UAPB is the No. 2 seed from the West Division and dropped its opening game to Alabama State 9-4.
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