Game #1 – Mississippi Valley State Blanks Prairie View A&M 10-0
Lisa Jansen threw seven strike-outs while the Devilettes totaled 11 hits to breeze past Prairie View A&M, 10-0 in the first round of the 2009 softball championship. A Tiana Parks double in the bottom of the first brought a runner home and put the Devilettes on the scoreboard early. In the third, Ashley Lawrence doubled while Rashundra Brass, Tiana Parks and Ta’Niya Wallace all singled, stretching Mississippi Valley’s lead to 6-0. Singles by Artavia Woods and Keisha Haggerman in the fourth gave Prairie View A&M its best scoring opportunity of the day. However, the squad couldn’t capitalize as it left two runners on to close the inning. The Devilettes sealed the deal in the bottom of the fourth as it scored four runs off of fives to win by the final 10-0 margin.
Mississippi Valley advances to take on Alcorn State at 12 noon on Friday, April 24. Prairie View A&M falls to the loser’s bracket to square off with Grambling State at 2:30 on Friday.
Game #2 – Southern Overcomes Alabama State, 11-3
Led by Lauren Dodd’s four runs and three hits, Southern prevailed past Alabama State 11-3 in first round action of the 2009 softball championship. The Jaguars had four hits in the second, including doubles by Dodd and Jasmine Tillman to take a 3-0 lead. In the following two innings, Southern would tally seven hits while bringing home seven runs to cushion its lead by 10 point. Alabama State showed a glimpse of a comeback in the fifth when the squad scored three runs. However, Southern would score one more run in the sixth to secure the 11-3 victory.
With the win Southern will continue in the winner’s bracket to take on Jackson State, Friday, April 24 at 12 noon.
Alabama State will see Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the loser’s at 2:30 p.m. on Friday.
Game #3 – Alcorn State Edges Grambling State, 1-0
Jennie Hatch pitched a no-hitter to lead Alcorn State to a slim 1-0 win over Grambling State. Hatch struck-out seven batters in the game while blanking 21 batters. The only run in the game was scored by Alcorn’s Michelle Lewis. As the lead off batter in the first, Lewis singled and advanced home on an Adriana Harrington double.
Alcorn advances to take on Mississippi Valley at 12 noon on Friday, April 24. Grambling falls to the loser’s bracket to see Prairie View A&M at 2:30 p.m. on Friday.
Game #4 – Jackson State defeats Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 3-0
Amanda Boggan registered three hits and one RBI to help lift Jackson State to a 3-0 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Jackson State brought two runners home in the first taking the early 2-0 lead. Both Boggan and Brittanie Talley singled in the inning. The Lady Tigers would score its other run in the fifth when Boggan singled bringing a run home.
With the win J-State advances to take on Southern in the winner’s bracket, Friday, April 24 at 12 noon. Arkansas-Pine Bluff will meet Alabama State in loser’s bracket at 2:30 p.m. on Friday.