Lady Braves Split Doubleheader with JSU

LORMAN, Miss. – After dropping the first game 3-2, the Alcorn State University softball program bounced back to win game two 5-1 Thursday against Jackson State at the Alcorn Softball Complex.
 
Senior Paige Taylor fired a complete-game to pick up the win in game two. She allowed just one run – unearned – and struck out seven batters. Taylor improved to 8-7 on the year and 5-1 in conference.
 
In game one, Alcorn (11-17, 7-4 SWAC) fell victim to one bad inning as JSU (10-30, 5-9 SWAC) scored all three of its runs in the fifth to break a scoreless game. The inning started with a leadoff triple by Kayla Owens, and two more hits, a hit-by-pitch, a stolen base and a fielder's choice where all runners were safe resulted in a 3-0 score.
 
It was a pitcher's duel for nearly the entire game, but the Lady Braves attempted a final rally in the seventh. Freshman Brooke Roach led it off with a walk. With two outs, a grounder to third was fielded and thrown over the head of the first baseman which allowed the runner from first to score. The Lady Braves cut it to 3-2 on a double down the left field line by junior Eva Scott. Though, Owens was able to escape after forcing a fly out to left field to end the game.
 
The Lady Braves have outscored the opposition 18-4 in the seventh inning this year.
 
Owens pitched a complete-game and picked up the win. Junior Ambria Dorsey also tossed a complete-game and struck out 12, but took the loss.
 
Scott finished 2-for-3 to record her fifth multi-hit game of the year. Junior Keelee Huff also had a hit in the contest.
 
"I really don't want to take anything away from Jackson State or Owens, but we looked like we hadn't played since April 2. Ambria was outstanding in game one. Our defense had some moments where we just didn't match the execution we needed. Offensively, we really didn't get anything going until the last inning and it was just too late," said Alcorn head coach Josef Rankin.
 
In game two, the Lady Braves flipped the script by scoring three runs in the fourth inning to take a 3-0 lead. A defensive error opened the door to begin the inning, and Alcorn loaded the bases after an infield single by sophomore Amari Ramsey and a walk by junior Brittney Triplett. The big blow was a one-out hit up the middle by sophomore Desirea Lindsey which cleared the bases.
 
Alcorn tacked on another in the fifth to lead 4-0. After a leadoff double by Roach down the left field line and a sacrifice bunt by freshman Sandrea Hord, sophomore Malea Dickerson delivered an RBI single to short.
 
After JSU got one back in the sixth, Alcorn added an insurance run in the bottom half to stay ahead 5-1. Lindsey led it off with a walk, and on the following at-bat, the JSU third baseman airmailed a throw to first which allowed Lindsey to come all the way around to score.
 
Ramsey and junior Simone McKinney knocked two hits apiece. McKinney notched her team-high eighth multi-hit game of the year, while it was Ramsey's fifth.
 
"Game two was better. We got the win. Paige was strong on the mound and we came up with timely hits taking advantage of some extra opportunities. Our goal is always to win the series. We still have that opportunity tomorrow. We have to come out with more juice and get after it," Rankin said.
 
The series finale will be Friday at 1 p.m. on Senior Day. Taylor and fellow senior Victoria Tyler will be honored in a ceremony at 12:20 p.m. as the Lady Braves look to take the series from the Lady Tigers for the third straight year.
 
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