Lady Braves Drop Tournament Opener to PVAMU

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alcorn State University softball program fell in the first round of the SWAC Championships to Prairie View A&M 3-0 on Wednesday at the Barbara Williams Complex.
 
The Lady Braves (13-23), the No. 3 seed from the East Division, scattered three hits in the game. PVAMU (29-15), the No. 2 seed from the West Division, garnered a big performance from SWAC Pitcher of the Year Crystal Castillo and took advantage of defensive miscues to push runs across.
 
"We have to bounce back. Give credit to Prairie View. Castillo was great and they took advantage of the opportunities we gave them," said Alcorn head coach Josef Rankin.
 
Alcorn's hits came from junior Simone McKinney and freshmen Brooke Roach and Sandrea Hord. Roach's hit came on a one-out double into the left center gap in the second inning.
 
Junior Ambria Dorsey got the start in the circle and pitched 5.0 innings. She allowed just one earned run and struck out three. Senior Paige Taylor entered in relief and threw the last frame.
 
"Ambria pitched well. She really did. We didn't do very well defensively and we couldn't come up with a big hit with runners in scoring position. But it is what it is. Our focus has to turn to tomorrow and making it another day," Rankin said.
 
The Lady Panthers were led by Castillo who tossed a complete-game shutout. She struck out seven batters to pick up the win. Shelby Williams knocked two hits for them at the plate.
 
The game was scoreless until the fourth inning when a pair of errors on the infield loaded the bases for PVAMU and opened the door. A little flare to left field by Serena Antone plated the go-ahead run.
 
The Lady Braves are still alive in the double-elimination format. They'll play again at 11 a.m. Thursday against No. 4 Arkansas-Pine Bluff from the West Division.
 
"Tomorrow is a new day," Rankin said.
 
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