Lady Braves Drop Pair Sunday

FLORENCE, Ala. – The Alcorn State University softball program fell to Tennessee State 4-1 and North Alabama 8-0 to close out the weekend on Sunday at Hilda B. Anderson Stadium.
 
Junior Ashley Arnold tallied a hit in each game. Junior Amari Ramsey doubled in game one to move into ninth all-time career doubles in the Alcorn record book with 21.
 
"Losing isn't ever the result you are looking for, but from an evaluation standpoint, it was a very good weekend to really see where your team is. We have a lot of work to do," said Alcorn head coach Josef Rankin. "It's just a matter of how to handle yourself when things don't go your way. Can you still compete with a lot of energy?"
 
In game one, the Lady Braves (1-3) got off to a good start by scoring in their opening at-bat. It started with a lead-off single by senior Simone McKinney, and she advanced to third on a double to left by Ramsey. Alcorn went up 1-0 on a sacrifice fly to right by sophomore Akaisha Lewis.
 
Freshman pitcher Kiri Parker was cruising along until the fourth inning when a one-out walk opened the door. TSU's Katie Schneider moved to second on a wild pitch and came home on a single to left to tie the game 1-1.
 
In the fifth, an error and a single was followed by a three-run homer by Savanah Wallace to put the Tigers on top 4-1.
 
The Lady Braves had an opportunity in the bottom of the seventh as they loaded the bases with two outs. It included a double to right field by junior Malea Dickerson. However, TSU's Raven Loveless got out of the jam with a grounder to second, which ended the game.
 
It was the first career start for Parker who lasted 4.2 innings. She struck out three and gave up just one earned run. Sophomore Brenn Ursin tossed 2.1 scoreless frames.
 
In game two, the Lady Braves were only able to muster one hit on a one-out single to left field by Arnold in the third inning.
 
The Lions scored one in the first and three more in the second to lead 4-0 after two innings. They capped it off with five runs in the fourth.
 
Senior Ambria Dorsey threw 4.0 innings and allowed three earned runs. She struck out a pair. It was her 40th career start – the eighth-most in school history.
 
Maci Birdyshaw threw a one-hitter for UNA in a five-inning complete-game shutout. She struck out eight.
 
"We played some solid teams that will capitalize on mistakes. I thought Kiri did an excellent job in game one. She really pitched well for her first college start. Ambria was solid in game two. She got up in her pitch count and I really didn't want to tax her. We have a long week ahead of us. Brenn is going to be good to go as soon as she trusts herself more. We just have to continue to get better," Rankin said.
 
The Lady Braves will have a quick turnaround as they travel to Nicholls for a 5 p.m. Tuesday contest. The home-opener is schedule for Thursday when Alcorn hosts Kentucky State in a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. at the Alcorn Softball Complex.
 
"I do not expect our offense to be this way all year. We just have to better at being more consistent with discipline at the plate and taking a swing that has bad intentions," Rankin said. " We are going to be better."
 
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