Watts Homers in Win Over Arlington Baptist

JACKSON, Miss. – Karmen Bernard turned in a perfect 3-for-3 showing at the dish Friday afternoon in helping Alcorn State to a 7-3 win over Arlington Baptist in non-conference softball action as part of the River City Classic at JSU Softball Field on the campus of Jackson State in Jackson, Mississippi.
 
Arlington Baptist (0-1) used a single from catcher Mariely Duran to put the Patriots on the board first in the top of the second.
 
Alcorn (1-0) responded with three runs in the bottom of the second frame on the strength of two runs crossing from a Patriots error.
 
Arlington Baptist crossed a pair in the top of the fifth thanks to back-to-back singles from Patriots' centerfielder Caelie Evans and Elizabeth Werner, allowing Duran and Evans to score consecutively.

It took the Braves little time to step back in front as the Purple and Gold went ahead for good in the home-half of the inning.
 
Catcher Paris Thompson (Kokomo, Miss.) grounded out to third, but the ball was deep enough to push across Olivia Miller (Kokomo, Miss.) who walked to begin the at-bat for the Purple and Gold.
 
That put Alcorn up, 4-3.
 
Alcorn added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to produce the 7-3 final.
 
Freshman first baseman Layla Watts (Jackson, Ga.) registered her first collegiate home run with a leadoff shot to left that stretched the Braves lead, 5-3. A Ka'Miya Dillon (Flowood, Miss.) two-run single to right scored sophomore Karmen Bernard (Yazoo City, Miss.) and Sanai Salvant (Belle Chasse, La.) two plays later.

Chiara Olison (Alvin, Texas) earned the win for Alcorn in the circle to go to 1-0 on the campaign. The right-hander allowed three runs on six hits and fanned three batters in the complete-game effort.
 
For ABU, it was Jenika Fuentes (0-1) taking the loss for the Patriots in a starting role. She worked five complete frames, being tagged for seven runs on 11 hits and walking two. Reliever Ali Nuno would finish the game for the Patriots.

For ABU, it was Evans leading the offensive attack with a 3-for-4 day, followed by Duran with a 2-for-3 effort at the dish.
 
The Braves offense received a perfect 3-for-3 outing from shortstop Bernard, adding two runs and driving in one as well.
 
Alcorn returns to the diamond Saturday, Feb. 7, continuing its participation in the River City Classic. The Braves first face Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opponent Alabama A&M at noon back at JSU Softball Field, followed by a contest against the host Jackson State Tigers at 2 p.m. Both games are non-conference matchups.
 
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