Lady Braves Drop Frigid Season-Opener to UNA

LORMAN, Miss. – A very cold opening day saw the Alcorn State University softball program muster four runs on eight hits, but fall to North Alabama 6-4 Friday at the Alcorn Softball Complex.
 
The temperature was in the low 40's when the game started, and the high 30's by the end.
 
"First of all, you really have to appreciate the passion both teams had today. That c-word was off limits, but the temperature was not too favorable. The fans, the student-body, workers – you can't say enough about them enduring those conditions to watch both teams play," said Alcorn head coach Josef Rankin.
 
Junior Brittney Triplett and sophomore Malea Dickerson both tallied a pair of hits in the contest for Alcorn (0-1). Senior Victoria Tyler reached base four times with a hit, a walk and was hit by a pitch twice. She registered two RBI's to move into the top-10 all-time in the Alcorn career record book with 63.
 
"We didn't have the outcome we wanted, but I really liked a lot of things. We gave ourselves a lot of scoring opportunities, but we just couldn't come up with that hit to get more runs across. We really did a great job grinding out a lot of at-bats. That's something you really want to see," Rankin said.
 
Junior Ambria Dorsey got the start in the circle and threw a complete-game. She struck out five and surrendered five earned runs.
 
"We will work to clean-up some things on defense, but it was a start. Ambria was outstanding in the circle. She competed and pitched through some tough situations. I was very proud of her," Rankin said. "I was extremely proud of our dugout. I loved the energy! I loved how engaged we were."
 
UNA (2-0), which was coming off a 1-0 victory over UAB on Thursday, was guided by Veronica Westfall who went four-for-four with a run and RBI from the No. 8 spot in the lineup. Laken Distefano picked up the win after throwing the first 3.0 innings, and Jensen Strickland got the save after throwing the last 4.0 frames.
 
The Lions jumped ahead 2-0 in the first inning, but the Lady Braves quickly responded in the bottom half. They loaded the bases after singles by Triplett and junior Simone McKinney and a walk by sophomore Amari Ramsey. Tyler cranked a hit into center to tie the game 2-2.
 
After junior Eva Scott walked, the Lady Braves still had the bases loaded with no outs. Though, they couldn't add on as Distefano was able to record a strike out, fly out and ground out to get out of the inning.
 
UNA regained the lead 3-2 in the top of the second after Westfall tripled and scored on a throwing error. The Lions extended their advantage to 6-2 in the third on four hits including a two-RBI triple by Chloe Deerman.
 
Alcorn had a chance to chip into the lead in the fourth inning. It loaded the bases after an infield single by sophomore Desirea Lindsey, a walk by Ramsey and a hit-by-pitch by Tyler. However, Strickland was able to escape with a two-out strikeout.
 
The Lady Braves made one last threat in the seventh inning. It started with a single by Dickerson, followed by a one-out hit by freshman Sandrea Hord. With two outs, Triplett singled to right field to score Dickerson, but got caught in a run down between first and second base. Triplett was eventually tagged out, but the runner from first scored before the game ended.
 
"We have to come out tomorrow and find a way to be better. It doesn't have to be a lot, but just get better and create more opportunities for us to be successful," Rankin said.
 
The two teams will meet again Saturday when they begin a doubleheader at 11 a.m. at the Alcorn Softball Complex. Tyler is four hits away from reaching 100 in her career.
 
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