Lady Braves Win Two of Three over KSU, Doubleheader Sweep Friday

VICKSBURG, Miss. – After dropping the first game of the series 5-2 Thursday at the Alcorn Softball Complex, the Alcorn State University softball program bounced back to sweep a doubleheader Friday over Kentucky State 15-1 (5) and 3-0 at Vicksburg High School.
 
Senior Paige Taylor shined in the circle Friday and pitched every inning of the doubleheader sweep. She picked up two wins and allowed just one run in 12.0 innings.
 
Over the three games, junior Brittney Triplett went 6-for-10 with six runs scored and was 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts. Sophomore Bri Smith turned in a solid 4-for-6 with a pair of doubles.
 
"We did a great job of competing with great energy and relentless effort. I am very happy for those young ladies to get their first wins of the season. We just have to build off of this and continue to compete," said Alcorn head coach Josef Rankin.
 
Alcorn (2-3) had 12 different student-athletes record a hit in the series, and nine tallied at least two.
 
"We had some great at-bats and played defense at a high level in most areas. It's just continuing to develop offensively and do the things we work on as a whole," Rankin said. "But man, you really cannot say enough about Paige Taylor. That's a senior stepping up and getting the job done for us. After the sixth in game two, we had Ambria [Dorsey] ready, but Paige said she wanted to finish really bad. I'm not sure if she had that confidence last year, but that shows her growth. I believe our team really fed off of how she was competing in the circle."
 
With three hits in the series, senior Victoria Tyler is just one away from reaching 100 in her career. Additionally, Tyler registered three RBI's to move up to No. 8 all-time in the Alcorn record book with 66.
 
Alcorn is now 18-2 all-time against KSU (4-7), and 9-2 under Rankin.
 
"All around – today was a great way to get on track," Rankin concluded.
 
Game One
The Lady Braves got off to a strong start by plating a pair in the first inning to go up 2-0. Triplett led it off with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a ground out. After Tyler was hit by a pitch and stole second, sophomore Malea Dickerson delivered a two-out, two-RBI single to plate both runners.
 
Alcorn had an opportunity to add-on in the second. With two outs, sophomore Desirea Lindsey and Triplett both singled, and junior Simone McKinney walked to load-up the bases. However, KSU was able to get out of the jam by forcing a groundout to the shortstop.
 
The Thorobreds put together a big inning in the third to take a 3-2 lead on four hits. One run came on a bases loaded wild pitch, and another on a bases loaded walk. Jackie Zubiate also had an RBI hit in the frame.
 
KSU extended the lead to 5-2 in the sixth, but both runs were unearned.
 
Triplett recorded two hits in the game to lead the offense. Dickerson reached twice after going 1-for-2 with a walk.
 
Junior Ambria Dorsey threw a complete-game after striking out six batters in seven innings. She surrendered just three earned runs.
 
Sasha Allen went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scorer for KSU. Paola Flores picked up the win after allowing two runs in seven innings.
 
Game Two
Alcorn's offense erupted for 15 runs on 16 hits as the Lady Braves piled it on early and often.
 
KSU got on the board with a two-out RBI by Olivia Saylor in the first inning, but the Lady Braves responded with a huge seven-run bottom half to take control.
 
Alcorn's seven runs came on six hits and an error. It got started with walks by Triplett and McKinney, and an RBI single up the middle by Tyler to tie it. The go-ahead runs came on a two-RBI single to center by freshman Sandrea Hord. Smith added on with a two-RBI double to right center, and scored on a two-RBI single by Triplett.
 
After a pair of shutout innings by Taylor, the Lady Braves tacked on four insurance runs in the third. The first blow came on a two-RBI triple to right by sophomore Amari Ramsey. It scored Triplett who singled, and Tyler who was hit by a pitch. Hord followed with a single to left which scored Ramsey. After Dickerson walked and Smith reached on an infield single, Hord scored on an infield single by sophomore Ashley Arnold.
 
The Lady Braves hit around again in the fourth. They loaded the bases with no outs after a single by Triplett, a walk by freshman pinch-hitter Zyon Feazell and a single by junior pitch-hitter by Alexsis Ramirez. A single by junior Eva Scott plated two runs, and an infield hit by junior pitch-hitter Taja Landry plated another. The final tally of the frame came on a sacrifice fly to right by Arnold to make it 15-1.
 
Triplett went 3-for-3 at the plate from the leadoff position with three runs scored and a couple RBI's. Hord finished 2-for-3 with three RBI's and two runs scored. Smith and Dickerson also notched two-hit games.
 
Taylor allowed just three hits in 5.0 innings and struck out five to get the win. Katelyn Hurley was pegged with the loss after giving up seven runs in the first inning.
 
Game Three
Alcorn broke open a scoreless battle with two runs in the fourth, and added an insurance run in the sixth to finish on top 3-0.
 
Smith got it started with a double to right center to leadoff the fourth. Tyler delivered an RBI single to left to get the Lady Braves on the board and break up the pitcher's duel. The second run came on an infield single by Ramsey.
 
In the sixth, Triplett beat out an infield single to get on base, and stole second. In the ensuing at-bat, McKinney laid down an infield single, and a throwing error allowed Triplett come around to score to put the Lady Braves up 3-0.
 
The Thorobreds never recorded more than one hit in an inning in the game. The only time they had a runner in scoring position came in the third inning, but Taylor was able to get out of it with a two-out pop up in the infield.
 
Taylor tossed a three-hitter and threw 87 pitches in seven innings to earn her second win of the day. Flores also threw a complete-game for KSU, but took the loss.
 
Up next, the Lady Braves will travel to Southern Miss for a 4 p.m. doubleheader Wednesday in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
 
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