Irondale, AL – After losing its first game on opening day of the SWAC Championship tournament, Alcorn State posted five straight wins over the next three days to claim the 2010 softball title with a 6-3 win over Mississippi Valley State on Sunday.
The Lady Braves started the day with an 11-2 rout over Grambling State to secure a place in the championship game against the six-time defending champion Devilettes. In the first inning of the title game, MVSU’s first two batters, Ashley Hobbs and Angelica Wade hoisted home runs out of the park, giving Alcorn State an early 0-2 deficit.
However, the Lady Braves answered back at the top of second with a Jennie Hatch homer that drove home two runs. The game would remain knotted at two all for the next five innings.
After a brief rain delay at the top of the eighth inning, Alcorn State returned from the hiatus re-energized as the Lady Braves rattled off three hits while scoring four runs to take the 6-2 lead.
The Devilettes looked poised for a scoring surge of their own after an Angelia Jones homer at the bottom of the eighth. However, MVSU wasn’t able to score again, halting a six-year conference championship win streak.
Alcorn State was led by Rachel Morris who was 2-for-4 in the game while Haleigh Eubanks led the way for the Devilettes, going 3-for-4.
This is Alcorn State’s first conference championship since 1997, when they were co-champions with Grambling State. With the win, the Lady Braves are automatic qualifiers for the NCAA regional tournament. The softball selection show is set for Sunday, May 16 at 9 p.m. (CT) on ESPNU.
2010 All-Tournament Team
Jasmine Hubbard, Adriana Harrington and Christine Garcia (Alcorn State); Ashley Hobbs and Alexandria Robertson (Miss. Valley State); Delyse Montgomery (Alabama State); Kiara Dedeaux (Grambling State); Mercedes Frazier (Alabama State); Shawntall Steamer and Victoria Stewart (Southern)
Most Valuable Player: Adriana Harrington, Alcorn State
