Upsets Highlight First Round at SWAC Tournament
SWAC.org
DECATUR - DECATUR - Grambling State pulled off the upset of the day, beating Jackson State 5-4 in nine innings in the first round of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Softball tournament. That win, coupled with Prairie View's upset of defending champion Mississippi Valley, put both finalists from 2012 in the elimination bracket.
GSU piled up 13 hits against All-SWAC pitchers Breea Jamerson and Jasmine Warren. Five different players, Alyssa Fontillas, Bridgette Simmons, Mikiesha Henson, Brianna Maiden and Jassitte Richardson, had two hits apiece. Richardson had a double and three stolen bases for GSU.
While her offense was getting production, GSU pitcher Angela Perez was solid, scattering seven hits over the nine innings. She had three strikeouts and no walks.
Arial Siegel was the only JSU player with multiple hits. She was 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.
Briana Carmouche had one hit, but it was a devastating 3-run blast in the second inning.
GSU scored early, posting a run in the first inning on an RBI single by Henson. Then in the second hit her homer, giving a GSU 4-0 advantage.
Jackson State rallied for four runs in the fifth inning to tie the game at 4-all. Then in the ninth, Maiden drove home the winning run with an RBI single.
Prairie view 6, Mississippi Valley 2
Prairie View (18-21) pulled the first surprise of the 2013 SWAC Softball Tournament, beating East No. 2 seed Mississippi Valley State 6-2.
Catcher Shontel Lopez had two of the six PVAM hits. Lady Panther pitcher Cally Falls earned the win, allowing two wins, while scattering four hits.
PVAM jumped on Valley starter Cassandra Rivera scored three times in the first and three more in the second to take a 6-0 lead.
MVSU finally got on the board in the sixth inning on an RBI single by second-baseman Alexandra Sullivan. The Devilettes plated another run in the seventh inning, but never mounted a serious threat.
Alabama State 2, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 0Alabama State pitcher Bailey Patt tossed a 3-hit shutout to help the Lady Hornets advance to the winners bracket of the SWAC Softball Tournament.Patt went the distance for ASU, striking out four and walking two. Meanwhile, the Lady Hornets had nine hits. Designated player Stephanie Hernandez was 3-for-3, while third-baseman Kimberly Ross had two hits, a double and triple.Both of the Alabama State runs came in the third inning. Makayla Webster drove home the first run on an RBI single to left field. Then, Meagan Dixon scored on an RBI single by Ross.
Texas Southern 2, Alcorn State 1Briana Parker hit a 2-run homer in the sixth inning to lift Texas Southern to a dramatic come-from-behind win.In a classic pitcher's duel, the game was scoreless after five innings. Alcorn broke the ice in the top of the sixth inning with an RBI double by Briana Bishop. But, in the bottom of the inning with Princess Daniels aboard, Parker took a swing at the first pitch she saw, launching a deep fly that cleared the left field fence.Daniels had two hits in the game. The Lady Tigers had only four in the game.Winning pitcher Rebecca Villareal allowed only five hits to go with the run. She had seven strikeouts and no walks.Despite a sparkling performance, Deanna Rancillio took the loss for Alcorn. She allowed only four hits, walked one and struck out one.