2017 SWAC Softball Tournament: Day One
SWAC.org
Alabama State 2, Prairie View A&M 1
Box Score
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A strong outing by Justine Jean and some late-inning offense propelled Alabama State (17-31) to a 2-1 win over Prairie View A&M (19-27) in the opening contest of the 2017 Southwestern Athletic Conference Softball Tournament Wednesday morning.
After a scoreless first, the Lady Panthers manufactured a scoring threat after Jean struck Kylar Ward-Flowers and Laurisa Hernandez (1-for-2, R) picked up a single. After Kelsey Coronado drew a walk to load the bags, Ward-Flowers scored during a fielder's choice that forced out Alyssa Garcia but – thanks to an errant throw to third – allowed the runners to advance. Jean sat down the remaining hitters to halt the Lady Panthers' offense in the inning.
Neither side managed much of a threat through the midway point, but Alabama State's Valerie Centeno led off the bottom of the sixth with a double that ended with her at third base thanks to an off-target throw from right.
Kendall Core then knotted the game with a sacrifice fly to score Centeno. Perry Hindi (2-for-3, R) then followed with a triple hit out to the right-field wall, and Taylor Rosser slapped a single to shallow right to hand ALST the lead.
From there, Jean (5-12) and the Lady Hornets did the rest, shutting out PVAMU in the seventh. Jean allowed just three hits with no earned runs and struck out four in the complete-game win.
Ashley Higgins dropped to 11-15 on the year, scattering seven hits and two runs.
Alabama A&M 5, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3
Box Score
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A four-run sixth inning powered Alabama A&M (17-28) to a 5-3 victory Arkansas-Pine Bluff (18-23) during game two of the 2017 SWAC Softball Tournament Wednesday afternoon.
Alabama A&M wasted no time getting on the board, as Kia Lang led off with a single, and Tiana Sanders slammed a double to right field to bring Lang across home plate for a quick 1-0 advantage.
Caitlyn Hayden shut down UAPB's lineup for the early goings, but the Lady Lions managed a scoring chance in the bottom of the fourth, as Tonnay Hawkins beat out a ground ball, and Ta'Lyn Moody dropped a single out left. After a sac fly moved the runners into scoring position, Alex Taylor drew a walk to load the bags with one out. Hawkins scored, and Monique Nikolao delivered a two-run single to hand the Lady Lions a 3-1 lead.
In the sixth, AAMU drew closer after a Viridiana Ramos double coupled with an error on UAPB's Maria Aguilar allowed Ariel Smith to score. Pinch-hitter Madi Pozzi (1-for-2, 2 RBI) smacked a base hit to right, but a fielding error on Shanice Akins allowed two more Lady Bulldogs to score as AAMU reclaimed the lead.
Hayden held UAPB scoreless from there, picking up her 12th win of the season with a complete-game effort where she struck out six.
Texas Southern 7, Mississippi Valley State 2
Box Score
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A five-run burst in the fifth inning propelled Texas Southern to a 7-2 victory over Mississippi Valley State.
Texas Southern (22-18) tacked on two in the first inning, as Kelsey Riley led off with a bunt single, and Heaven Benavidez drew a walk. After Maidlynn Marek (2-for-3) moved the runners over, Riley scored on a wild pitch, and Chanler Powell scored Benavidez with a sac fly.
With pitcher Jasmin Fulmore keeping the Devilette bats at bay for the early portions of the game, the Lady Tigers got to MVSU starter Rebekah Clinton (CG, 10 H, 7 ER, 5 BB) and pushed their advantage to 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Powell and Heaven Benavidez (1-for-3, 2 R) collected base hits, and Sierra Valdez cleared the bags with a three-run home run over the left field wall.
Marissa Padron slapped a double to left that scored Krystalani Yockman as TSU increased its lead. Padron later scored on a wild pitch.
The Devilettes (13-32) finally found some offense in the top of the sixth, as Kaylin Dunn delivered a RBI double. Ikeyia Alexander (2-for-3) followed with a base hit to bring Dunn across home plate. However, that was all the Devilettes would muster at the plate for the game.
Fulmore scattered eight hits and fanned nine hitters, earning the complete-game win.
Southern 4, Alcorn State 3
Box Score
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Southern staved off a late charge from top-seeded Alcorn State to claim a 4-3 win in the final game of the opening round of the 2017 SWAC Softball Tournament.
Southern used small ball to take the early advantage, as Sydney Andrews and Shauna Knighten led off with back-to-back bunt singles. A double steal allowed Andrews to swipe home, giving the Jaguars a 1-0 lead.
Alcorn State mounted threats in each of the early frames, but each time came up empty. The Lady Braves stranded five runners over the first three innings, as Kayleigh Thomas managed to keep Southern unscathed.
In the fourth, Southern (16-20) looked to press the advantage as Kiara Suttles belted a double to the left center warning track. Tiara Scott moved Suttles to third with a sac bunt, but Robin Harrison retired the rest of the lineup to escape the inning.
However, the Lady Braves again squandered a scoring chance in the fourth, and Southern pushed forward in the fifth on a RBI single by Jamani Greer – during which she advanced to third on a throwing error -- that scored Aubrion James. Sydney Andrews hit into a fielder's choice, and Hughes sent the throw home, but Greer beat the tag – and advanced to second on an air-mailed throw by catcher Jessica Crum – making it 3-0.
Suttles (2-for-3, RBI) smacked her second double of the day to right, driving in Andrews and making it 4-0.
Alcorn State finally found offense in the bottom of the sixth, when the Lady Braves loaded the bags, predominantly at the expense of SU reliever Tiara Scott. Adriana Gutierrez cashed in for Alcorn State with a two-run single.
After Alcorn got through the seventh unscathed, Hughes managed to reach second on an error. Crum grounded out, but a mishandled grounder allowed Montana Holyfield to reach base and Hughes to score, making it 4-3. A wild pitch allowed Holyfield to get to third, but Scott forced Courtenay Holt into a game-ending groundout.
Thomas got the win, throwing 5.0 innings and allowing two runs on six hits. Scott ended up with the save. Robin Harrion took the loss for Alcorn State (16-30).