MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alcorn Softball split a pair of games on the opening day of the HBCU Celebration Classic hosted by Alabama State in Montgomery, Alabama, with the Braves defeating Mississippi Valley State on Friday, before dropping a nightcap affair to Alabama State in a game that stretched past midnight into the early hours of Saturday.
Alcorn 22, Mississippi Valley 5 (5 inn.)
Alcorn scored four in the opening half-inning and never looked back Friday afternoon as the Braves registered a 22-5 defeat of Mississippi Valley State in the opening game for both teams of the HBCU Celebration Classic at Lagoon Park Sports Complex in Montgomery, Alabama.
Alcorn (5-4) used a
Mariah Morgan inside the park grand slam – the first of her career, to get the Braves on the board first. Morgan, a senior from Ripley, Tennessee, drove in
Paris Thompson,
Rajayla McBride and
Olivia Miller on the play to put the Purple and Gold up, 4-0.
Mississippi Valley State (0-5) scored its first runs of the season in the bottom-half of the frame as Sheridan Kynard scampered in from third on a wild pitch from Braves starter
Chiara Olison. That was followed by Hailey Akers delivering a two-run single to left field that plated Kelsey Kaluna-Thomas and Michelle Diaz, bringing the Delta devilettes to within 4-3.
The Braves would go on to score six in the third, as well as another seven in the fourth to put the game out of reach.
Yahnya Acevedo blasted her team-leading third home run of the year with a two-run shot in the fourth – also scoring
Karmen Bernard. And it would be the Tatum, Texas native registering a two-run double to venter in the fifth to advance the Braves lead to 19-3.
Miller would eventually bring in Acevedo with her RBI groundout to third. Later, Thompson would secure her own RBI with a single to shallow center to bring around Salvant.
The winning pitcher was Olison (4-2), as she went the distance in the circle with five runs allowed on eight hits, one walk and one strikeout. The loss was awarded to MVSU starter Madison Bruce (0-1) who also pitched the entirety, as she was hit for 22 runs (17 earned) on 20 hits, three walks and collecting four strikeouts.
Inside the Box Score
• All but one Alcorn player registered a hit in the game.
• Acevedo recorded her team-leading third home run of the year.
• Thompson was a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored and three RBIs.
• Morgan turned in a 3-for-4 day with a team-high matching four RBIs.
• Olison was also 3-for-4 at the dish with two runs and two RBIs.
Alabama State 7, Alcorn 0
A four-run fourth inning was the big blow Friday evening, as Alabama State held off Alcorn 7-0 in the final game of Friday's opening day action of the HBCU Celebration Classic at Barbara Williams Field on the campus of Alabama State in Montgomery, Alabama. With weather affecting the day's schedule, the game did not conclude until after midnight on Saturday morning.
A double steal was performed by Alabama State (4-10) that saw the hosts get on the board first breaking the deadlock in the fourth inning on an errant throw trying to throw out the runner. Eventually, Meshayla Pettaway and Talee Sims scored on the play to put the Hornets up 2-0.
In the fifth, Alabama State used a Jaibriel Terrell triple to clear the bases and score McKenzie Owens and Jayla Stewart, increasing the Hornets lead, 4-0. Terrell would later score on a wild pitch from Alcorn (5-5) starter
Alainah Felton, before a Sims single down the line in left crossed Arianna Cox-Cole.
The final run came across from a passed ball that saw Owens trot in from third and produce the 7-0 score line.
The win was credited to Kohana Pousson (2-1) as she advanced her record to a winning formula for the year in throwing the complete game, striking out a season-high 13 batters and allowing just one hit. The Braves Felton (1-2) dropped her record with the loss in working 4.1 innings and giving up five runs (three earned) on six hits, three strikeouts and one walk.
Alcorn reliever
Se'Marai Smith came out of the bullpen to close the final 1.2 innings in the circle for the Purple and Gold, allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit and two walks.
Inside the Box Score
•
Olivia Miller finished 1-for-3 in the game at the dish.
• McBride turned in two putouts from her third base position, defensively.
• Miller had a putout and an assist at the shortstop position.
Alcorn returns to face Jackson State for the second time this campaign on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 2 p.m. The game could be pushed back due to earlier games beginning at noon because of weather in and around the Mongomery area.
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