Lady Braves Extend Winning-Streak on Walk-off Hit by Eva Scott

LORMAN, Miss. – A two-out hit by junior Eva Scott gave the Alcorn State University a 7-6 walk-off victory over Mississippi Valley State on Friday at the Alcorn Softball Complex.
 
It increased Alcorn's (8-14, 4-3 SWAC) winning-streak to six games.
 
The score was tied 6-6 when Scott came to the plate with runners on 1st and 2nd in the bottom of the seventh. She fell behind in the count 1-2 when she worked it back to a full count. On the final pitch of the game, Scott laced a ball down the left field line past a diving third baseman to send home the winning run.

 - Eva Scott
 
"That was a great win for us. This team is growing up. I am not really sure if we win that game three weeks ago. I love the fight," said Alcorn head coach Josef Rankin. "I really like where we are going. We are responding to adversity a little differently now."
 
It was a back-and-forth game for most of the way. The Lady Braves jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the third inning, but MVSU (4-24, 0-7 SWAC) responded with three in the fourth and one in the fifth to tie it 5-5.
 
Alcorn scored the then-go ahead run in the bottom of the sixth, but the Delta Devilettes again knotted it in their final at-bat. It extended the game to the bottom of the seventh where the Lady Braves notched a walk and two hits to win it.
 
"It was great to see all of the fans who came to support us today. I really appreciate that! Parents and families, Alcorn employees, the student-body and other student-athletes – we really appreciate that," Rankin said.
 
Alcorn outhit MVSU 11-8. Multi-hit games came from junior Simone McKinney and sophomores Malea Dickerson, Desirea Lindsey and Amari Ramsey - the reigning SWAC Hitter of the Week winner.
 
Junior Ambria Dorsey got the start in the circle and picked up a no-decision after tossing 3.1 innings. Senior Paige Taylor earned the win in relief after allowing just one earned run in 3.2 frames.
 
MVSU got on the board first with a two-out hit up the middle by Jade Arroyo to lead 1-0.
 
The Lady Braves quickly tied it 1-1 in their first at-bat. It all came with two outs as senior Victoria Tyler was hit by a pitch, and freshman Brooke Roach doubled to left to put runners on second and third. Dickerson hit a slow roller to the left side that the shortstop couldn't make a play on to score the run.
 
Alcorn took the lead in its next at-bat. Scott reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and scored on an RBI double to left by Lindsey to go up 2-1.
 
The Lady Braves were seemingly in control after a three-run third inning increased the advantage to 5-1. An RBI triple came from Ramsey after she crushed a ball over the center fielder's head. Alcorn also scored on an error and an RBI groundout by freshman Sandrea Hord.
 
The Delta Devilettes came back with a long fourth inning. It included three runs on three hits to chip into the deficit 5-4. MVSU tied it in the fifth on another RBI hit by Arroyo to make it 5-5.
 
Alcorn went back to work in the sixth and got it started with a walk by Scott and a sacrifice bunt. A double by McKinney to left scored the run to give the Lady Braves a 6-5 edge heading into the seventh.
 
A lead-off walk by MVSU's Deshonte Smith eventually came around to score in the seventh. The tying run came on Arroyo's third RBI hit of the game on a single to left.
 
Alcorn's seventh inning got started with a one-out double to left-center by Dickerson. After Ramsey was intentionally walked, the Delta Devilettes recorded a line out to setup the final sequence and bring Scott to the plate with two outs. The winning run was scored by Dickerson.
 
"Now, we have got to work hard to win the series tomorrow. I am really proud of our team," Rankin said.
 
Alyssa Montes threw 6.2 innings for the Delta Devilettes but took the loss. Arroyo finished 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs.
 
The Lady Braves have outscored the opposition 24-14 in the first inning and 16-3 in the seventh this year. McKinney extended her on-base streak to 10 games, and Scott's hitting streak is now at six.
 
Alcorn and MVSU will go back at it tomorrow in a doubleheader beginning at noon. First pitch was moved up an hour from its original scheduled time of 1 p.m.


 

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