Alcorn Beats JSU on Senior Day to Win Series

LORMAN, Miss. – It came down to the final at-bat as the Alcorn State University softball program pulled out a 5-4 victory over Jackson State on Friday to win the series on Senior Day at the Alcorn Softball Complex.
 
"These are the games that we need to be able to win. It's good for Paige [Taylor] and Ambria [Dorsey] to still find a way to battle and fight on days where they might not be as sharp. At the plate, we did a very good job of adjusting today, coming out and swinging and making some very hard contact. Overall, today was very good," Rankin said.
 
It were the final home games for seniors Paige Taylor and Victoria Tyler. Taylor picked up the win in the circle, while Tyler went 1-for-1 with two RBIs, a double, sacrifice fly and hit-by-pitch.
 
"Victoria did a very well. She had some good at-bats, and it came after yesterday she said she wasn't taking good swings and had too much tilt with her head. She did a really good job of keeping her head as still as possible, and she did a very good job of making hard contact," Rankin said.
 
Sophomore Amari Ramsey went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and two runs scored. It was her sixth multi-hit game of the year and second of the series. On the weekend, she went 4-for-9 (.444) with two doubles and four runs scored.
 
The Lady Braves (12-17, 8-4 SWAC) trailed early after the Lady Tigers (10-31, 5-10 SWAC) got on the board with two runs in the first inning. It came on an RBI groundout and a wild pitch.
 
Alcorn responded with three runs in the second inning to leap ahead 3-2. It loaded the bases after Tyler was hit by a pitch, sophomore Malea Dickerson singled to left and freshman Sandrea Hord walked. Junior Eva Scott ripped a one-out trip over the center fielder's head to score two runs, as the runner at first was thrown out at the plate. However, sophomore Desirea Lindsey followed with an RBI single up the middle to score Scott.
 
"Eva's done well for us. She's come up with some big hits, especially with runners in scoring position. She probably she have had another RBI, but the runner around third got confused with the signals as Eva was on her back. But Eva has done well swinging the bat," Rankin said.
 
The Lady Braves tacked on another in the third to go up 4-2. It started with hits by Ramsey and freshman Brooke Roach, and then Ramsey stole third. Tyler laced a shot to left field that was caught, but turned into a sacrifice fly as Ramsey tagged up.
 
JSU got one back in the fifth to trim the deficit to 4-3. A leadoff double by Yasmine Melero came around to score.
 
Alcorn responded with one in the bottom half to stay ahead 5-3. It came on doubles by Ramsey and Tyler to left field.
 
A nail-biting seventh inning began with a leadoff walk by Zoey Keyes. She came all the way around to score after three wild pitches. Down 5-4, the Lady Tigers then placed runners on first and second after a walk and a single. With one out, junior Ambria Dorsey recorded a pop up to the shortstop and a lineout to third that was caught by Ramsey to end the game.
 
Taylor tossed five strong innings to improve her record to 9-7 overall and 6-1 SWAC. Dorsey threw the final two frames to earn her third save of the season.
 
The Lady Tigers were led by Madelyn Prukop who went 2-for-2 at the plate with a walk and run scored. Kayla Owens lasted 5.0 innings but took the loss.
 
Alcorn outhit JSU 9-5 in the game. The Lady Braves took the series from the Lady Tigers for the third consecutive year.
 
"We did better today. We had a plan of being more aggressive early in the count and we just wanted to make good, hard contact today. I was glad to see the adjustments we made," Rankin said. "We always want to win the series. With today's win, and two sweeps before it, we're back on track with where we need to be."
 
Alcorn has won eight of its last nine SWAC games.

"I just really appreciate the fan support today! It was a great atmosphere! We really appreciate it," Rankin said. "It's great to see families, students and university employees. It was awesome to see the student-athletes and coaches from other sports out supporting us. Our program is grateful."
 
The Lady Braves will step aside from SWAC play on Wednesday at 4 p.m. when they travel to Miles College for a doubleheader. It will begin an eight-game road trip to wrap-up the regular season.
 
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