LORMAN, Miss. –
Chiara Olison went the distance in the circle while
Rajayla McBride legged out two hits Friday afternoon with Alcorn dropping both legs of a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Softball doubleheader to Texas Southern at Alcorn Softball Complex in Lorman, Mississippi. Texas Southern took the day's opener 9-4, and returned for a 1-0 shutout win in the nightcap.
GAME ONE: TEXAS SOUTHERN 9, ALCORN 4
Texas Southern overcame an early three-run deficit and rode a wave of Alcorn miscues to post a 9-4 victory over the Braves in the first game of a SWAC Softball doubleheader Friday afternoon at Alcorn Softball Complex in Lorman, Mississippi.
Texas Southern, now 21-10 overall and 10-6 in conference play, trailed 3-0 after the first inning before chipping away with runs in the second and third to level the score.
The game's decisive moment came in the fifth inning, when a pair of Alcorn errors allowed four runs to score – all unearned to starting pitcher
Alainah Felton – blowing the game open at 7-3 in favor of the visiting Tigers.
TSU's Jordyn Talbert was the offensive catalyst for her side, finishing 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base. The centerfielder also scored on a wild pitch in the fifth and delivered a run-scoring triple in the seventh to cap the scoring. Kylie Wilson added a pair of RBIs, including a sacrifice fly in the seventh, while Karisma Garcia drove in a run with a single up the middle in the third that knotted the game at 3-all.
TSU's Zaria Turner earned the win in the pitcher's circle, going the full seven innings and allowing four runs (one earned) on seven hits with two walks and one strikeout. She improved to 6-5 on the season, respectfully
Her counterpart, Felton, took the loss for the Purple and Gold, dropping to 4-7 on the campaign. She was touched for nine runs (three earned) on 11 hits and five walks across a complete-game effort for the right-hander, and was charged with five wild pitches that repeatedly aided the Tigers offense.
The Braves fell to 13-24 on the year and 1-12 in SWAC play, respectively.
Alcorn jumped on top early, as a throwing error by Garcia at the catcher position in the first inning allowed two runs to come across, with a
Chiara Olison sacrifice fly plating a third. Centerfielder
Rajayla McBride had two hits to pace the Alcorn offense, with Olison driving in two runs on a 1-for-2 effort at the dish.
Texas Southern committed three errors in the game, while Alcorn was charged with three of its own – several of which came at critical moments that allowed unearned runs to cross the plate.
GAME TWO: TEXAS SOUTHERN 1, ALCORN 0
Kylie Wilson spun a no-hitter and Katelynn Cooper drove in the game's only run as Texas Southern completed a SWAC Softball doubleheader sweep of Alcorn courtesy a 1-0 victory Friday afternoon at Alcorn Softball Complex in Lorman, Mississippi.
Wilson, who entered the circle for originally penciled starter Asia Peart from the onset of the Alcorn at-bat in the bottom of the first, retired all 22-of-23 batters faced over seven innings, walking just one and striking out two across her duration in the circle. The complete-game gem improved her record to 6-2 on the season.
Texas Southern's lone run came in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Katelynn Cooper, who lifted a ball to left field to score right fielder Marisa Perla, who had opened the frame with a walk. Perla advanced on a Kylie Wilson bunt single and moved to third on a fielder's choice before coming home on Cooper's fly ball to deep left.
It was all the offense the Tigers would need in the contest.
Alcorn starter
Chiara Olison was nearly as sharp in the loss, surrendering just one run on five hits across seven innings while striking out one. She dropped to 7-14 on the year despite a strong outing.
Lanay Carr led Texas Southern with two hits, including a double, while Wilson also contributed a pair of bunt singles from the plate.
Texas Southern improved to 22-10 overall and 11-6 in SWAC play with the twin-bill sweep. Meanwhile, Alcorn fell to 13-25 on the season and 1-13 in conference play.
The two sides meet Saturday at noon to complete the three-game series back at Alcorn Softball Complex.
Follow Alcorn State Sports on Twitter (
@BravesSports) for all the latest news and updates. Follow us on Instagram (
@AlcornSports) and YouTube (
Braves Sports Network)
for even further behind-the-scenes action across all Braves Athletics.
