STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Alcorn State softball team (7-12) was unlucky on day two of the Bulldog Invitational, dropping competitions against Jacksonville State and Furman University. Against the Gamecocks, the Braves fell 13-1 and a seventh-inning rally by the Paladins resulted in a 9-4 loss for ASU.
The Braves narrowly escaped a shutout in game one, breaking the scoring silence in the bottom of the fifth for the last run of the outing. The game was cut short in the 13-1 loss with only five innings.
Junior pitcher Lexi Veamoi (1-4) took the loss on the mound, occupying the circle for 3.1 innings. The Athens, Ga. native faced 19 batters for six hits against, six earned runs, and one walk. Ta'Niya Fletcher made her third-weekend appearance with 0.1 innings pitched for five hits against, five runs (three earned), and one strikeout. A'Mya Stevens closed the contest with 1.1 innings, three hits against, and two earned runs.
While scoring just one run, Alcorn State connected for four hits with two errors. In the contest, Chloey Morgan, Kristian Edwards, Genise Wells, and Hannah Dukes had a hit each. Marsha Hunt scored the Braves' only run, with Dukes credited with the RBI.
Sarah Currie returned to the circle for Jacksonville State, collecting her second victory against Alcorn State. She pitched the complete game for four hits against, one earned run, one walk, and four strikeouts.
At the plate, the Gamecocks landed 14 hits for 13 runs. Shortstop Camryn McLemore went 3-for-3 with a double, a home run, two RBIs, and two runs. Addie Robinson had three RBIs, hitting a three-run homer in the top of the fourth.
The beginning two frames went by with no score. At the top of the third, JSU scored its first run on a sacrifice fly to lead the Braves, 1-0.
The top of the fourth sent 10 runners home for the Gamecocks. JSU scored 10 on eight hits and two Braves errors, extending its lead to 10-0.
Jacksonville State added two in the top of the fifth with a two-RBI homer. In the bottom of the inning, Alcorn State closed the game with a run as Hunt came home on a single to the shortstop by Dukes. The Braves ended the game with a 13-1 loss.
Alcorn struck first in the second game against Furman University, scoring three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Despite the early lead, the Braves could not stay ahead of the Paladins to fall 9-4.
Lexi Veamoi took the loss in the circle, entering in the fifth inning to pitch for two. The Athens, Ga. had three hits against, one earned run, one walk, and one strikeout. Kiri Parker started the game to pitch for 4.0 innings. She faced 20 batters for five hits against, three earned runs, four walks, and one strikeout. A'Mya Stevens closed with 1.0 innings pitched, four hits against, five runs (four earned), one walk, and one strikeout.
The Braves put up four runs on six hits with an error. Kelsey Lockridge led the effort with a 2-for-3 appearance with three RBIs and one run. Tyesha Cole led the team in runs with two.
Isabella Caer took her first win of the season in the circle, closing the game with 3.0 innings pitched, one hit against, one earned run, one walk, and one strikeout. Shelby Maier opened the game for Furman to pitch 4.0 innings for five hits against, three runs (one earned), three walks, and three strikeouts.
Against the Braves, the Paladins had nine runs with 12 hits and one error. Ashlee Lykins had a 3-for-5 appearance with two runs. Natalie Morgan had a game-high of four RBIs, and Chole Fabio added two runs.
Alcorn State grabbed an early lead, scoring three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Lockridge doubled to center field to score Genise Wells and Cole. Then, Lockridge came home on a single by Chloey Morgan.
Furman tied the score at three in the top of the fourth, connecting for three hits and three runs.
Both teams added runs in the fifth frame, with Lockridge connecting again for an RBI single to score Cole.
With the game tied at five going into the top of the seventh, it was still anyone's game. The Paladins took the game from the Braves grasps, scoring five runs on four hits and a Braves error.
UP NEXT
The Braves will be back in action on Sunday, March 6, when they close out the tournament against Mississippi State. The first pitch is set for 12:30 p.m.
For the latest on Alcorn State softball, check AlcornSports.com for the latest news and scheduling information, or follow the Braves through Twitter (@BravesSports), Facebook (Alcorn State Sports), and Instagram (@AlcornSports).
