Alcorn Slugs Grambling State to Complete Sweep

GRAMBLING, La. – The bats did not let up Saturday for the Alcorn State University softball program as it swept Grambling State in a doubleheader 12-9 and 12-3 at the GSU Softball Complex.
 
Alcorn (5-14, 3-3 SWAC) scored at least 10 runs against GSU (12-12, 0-6 SWAC) in all three games of the series. On Saturday, the Lady Braves registered 28 hits over the two games to complete the sweep.
 
Furthermore, the offense was nearly outdone by the work of junior Ambria Dorsey in the circle. Dorsey earned a win and a save in the doubleheader and did not allow an earned run in 9.1 innings. On the weekend, Dorsey posted a 2-0 record and 0.43 ERA in 16.1 frames.
 
To begin the doubleheader, sophomores Amari Ramsey and Desirea Lindsey notched three hits apiece. All three of Ramsey's hits were doubles and she also walked and scored four runs. Senior Victoria Tyler and junior Eva Scott also recorded two-hit outings.
 
In the series finale, Scott, Lindsey, sophomore Malea Dickerson, freshman Brooke Roach and sophomore Simone McKinney all posted at least two hits. McKinney finished 4-for-5, while Roach knocked in five RBIs including a homer. Lindsey sprinted around the bases for an inside-the-park homer.
 
"It's always a great weekend when you can sweep a conference series. Out team really came together and played well together," said Alcorn head coach Josef Rankin. "It's got to always be about doing what you can for the whole. Sometimes everyone doesn't understand why you bunt or when you sub, but it's about being selfless in order to win for the team. I am very proud of this team for bouncing back. They were awesome! Overall, I am proud of this group."
 
Tyler is up to 111 career hits which ranks 12th all-time in the Alcorn record book. She also has 73 RBIs which ranks seventh.
 
The Lady Braves have now outscored the opposition 15-2 in the seventh inning this year.
 
Alcorn improved to 30-16 all-time against GSU and 6-1 under Rankin.
 
The Lady Braves will begin a five-game homestand Tuesday when they host Rust College in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
 
Game One
The Lady Braves fell behind in the first inning after GSU plated two runs in its first at-bat. They came on a two-RBI single by Rikkelle Miller.
 
Alcorn quickly answered in its next at-bat. It started with a walk by Roach, and a double by Ramsey was accompanied by a fielding error which tied the game 2-2. Scott kept the inning going with a walk and steal, and scored on an RBI hit to center by Lindsey to take the lead. The Lady Braves cashed in on a fielding error which plated Lindsey and gave Alcorn a 4-2 edge.
 
Alcorn tacked on three more in the third to lead 7-2. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Ramsey and junior Keelee Huff scored the first two runs, and Scott followed with a hit up the middle to score another.
 
GSU got one back in the bottom half, but the Lady Braves kept swinging away in the fourth. After a walk by junior Brittney Triplett and a bunt single by McKinney, Tyler singled to the left to bring a run in. Alcorn went up 10-3 after Roach was picked off at first, but it allowed McKinney to score from third.
 
In the fifth inning, Ramsey led it off with a double to left-center, and scored on a knock by Scott through the left side. After a hit and a passed ball, Scott touched home on a hit by Tyler to left field.
 
The Lady Braves scored the final tally of the game in the sixth. Ramsey walked to get it started, and moved to second on an error. An RBI double by Lindsey to left-center plated the team's 12th run of the game.
 
GSU posed one last threat in the bottom of the seventh. Trailing 12-9, the Tigers brought the tying run to the plate with one out. However, Dorsey got out of the jam after forcing a groundout to the catcher, and a swinging strikeout ended it.
 
Senior Paige Taylor got the nod and earned the win after tossing 4.2 innings. She struck out four and allowed three earned runs. Dorsey did not allow a hit in her 2.1 innings of relief and picked up the save.
 
Ja'Lynn Bonner threw a complete-game for GSU and gave up four earned runs on 12 hits. She fell victim to six fielding errors by the team. Miller finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
 
Game Two
The Lady Braves opened the scoring with a run in the second inning. Ramsey led it off with a single up the middle, and freshman Sandrea Hord took her place on a fielder's choice. After an error, Scott singled to left field to score Hord and put Alcorn up 1-0.
 
Alcorn tacked on two more in the third to go up 3-0. It came on a two-run bomb by Roach to center field. The homer also scored Tyler who reached on a walk.
 
The Lady Braves kept adding on, and increased their advantage to 6-0 in the fourth. It began with an inside-the-park homer to left field by Lindsey. Alcorn kept it going with back-to-back hits by Triplett and McKinney, and a single up the middle by Roach scored two runs.
 
The Tigers got back in it with three runs in the bottom half to cut the deficit to 6-3. It came on a two-RBI single by Anaiyah Fultz, and a double-steal with runners on first and third.
 
However, Alcorn punched back with four runs in the fifth to catapult ahead 10-3. It loaded the bases with singles by Hord, Scott and Lindsey. The first run came in on a fielder's choice, and another on a throwing error. McKinney delivered an RBI single to score Lindsey, and the last run came on a sacrifice fly by Roach.
 
The Lady Braves put the game way out of reach with two more tallies in the seventh. The inning was aided by two errors by GSU, but Alcorn garnered an RBI by Tyler on a hit to left to increase the edge to 12-3.
 
Dorsey fired a complete-game without allowing an earned run. She struck out five and allowed just five hits to grab the win. D'Maria Matthews also threw a complete-game for GSU and gave up nine earned runs and 16 hits.
 
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