2016 SWAC Softball Tournament: Day Three Recaps
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Alcorn State 9, Mississippi Valley State 4
Box Score
IRONDALE, Ala. – Alcorn State moved one step closer to the SWAC Softball Tournament Championship game, downing Mississippi Valley State 9-4 to eliminate the Devilettes from the tournament.
The Lady Braves (18-26) quickly built a 6-0 lead at the end of three, thanks in part to a two-run double by Adriana Gutierrez in the second inning and two RBI base hits – and double in the first and a single in the second – by Taylor Hughes. Hughes went 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored.
MVSU (15-29) tacked on two runs in the fourth thanks to a two-run double by Deja Talton, but Alcorn got those runs back with a two-run double by Victoria Tyler, who later picked up a RBI via sac fly.
Paige Breal (15-12) won her third game of the tournament, striking out nine and allowing four runs on seven hits. The Braves will face Texas Southern Saturday at 10 a.m., with the winner advancing to the championship game against Alabama State.
Alabama State 6, Texas Southern 5 (F/9)Box Score
IRONDALE, Ala. – A Kendall Core sac fly lifted Alabama State to the 2016 SWAC Softball Tournament championship game as the Hornets downed Texas Southern 6-5 in nine innings.
Extras were forced in the seventh, where Alabama State (27-25) led the Tigers (26-17) 5-4 when – after it appeared that Alabama State would escape a bases-loaded jam with a game-ending double play – a mental lapse at the plate allowed Briana Simpson to tie the game.
ALST originally took the lead in the third, as Valerie Centeno and Jenna Mae Thorne each delivered RBI doubles for the Hornets. TXSO reclaimed the lead 3-2 with runs driven in by Kacey Creel and Tiffany Marshall in the third, but the Hornets regained the advantage with a RBI single from Core and a two-run single by Charlene Castro.
Tyra Williams (7-5) received the loss for the Tigers, throwing 4.0 innings of relief and allowing three hits and the game-winning run. Melissa Christmann got the win, with 2.0 scoreless innings of relief. Laura Aguilar was 5-for-5, and TXSO’s Chanler Powell and Kyrstalani Yockman each went 2-for-5, with Powell picking up two RBI.
While the Hornets are assured a slot in the championship game (Saturday at 2 p.m.), Texas Southern will play Alcorn State at 10 a.m. Saturday for the remaining slot.
Mississippi Valley State 11, Southern 4
Box Score
IRONDALE, Ala. – Mississippi Valley State downed Southern 11-4 to end the Jaguars season during the 2016 SWAC Softball Tournament.
The Devilettes (15-28) jumped ahead early after a Deja Talton three-run shot to left field. Southern was able to get within one run, but in the fourth, the Devilettes tacked on three more runs, and in the fifth, Talton (4-for-5, 4 RBI) was able to plate Kaylin Dunn – who led off the inning with a triple – with a RBI base hit. Dunn (3-for-5, 2 RBI, 3 R)later added a two-run single for MVSU’s good measure.
Kiara Suttles scored three runs and had one hit for Southern. Monica Rivera pitched 5.2 innings, allowing four hits and four runs while sitting down two to earn the win. Kayleigh Thomas allowed eight hits and six runs in 4.0 innings, receiving the loss for the Jaguars.
Alcorn State 8, Alabama A&M 1
Box Score
IRONDALE, Ala. – Lady Braves pitcher Paige Breal fanned 13 hitters as Alcorn State eliminated Alabama A&M 8-1 from the 2016 SWAC Softball Tournament.
AAMU (12-35) struck first with a Tiana Sanders home run in the first, but from that point, Breal and the Braves were able to hold the Bulldogs scoreless as Alcorn’s Courtenay Holt smacked a two-run homer to make the game 3-1, and Shamberlynn Alop hit a solo shot to help extend the Lady Braves’ advantage. Taylor Hughes hit a two-run double as part of a three-run sixth inning that closed the game for ALCN (17-26).
Breal (14-12) surrendered only four hits in the contest. Hughes was 2-for-2 with three RBI.