Early Alcorn State errors helped the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff claim its first conference win of the season Saturday.
The UAPB softball team defeated Alcorn State 6-2 at the Torii Hunter Softball Complex in the first of three games this weekend.
UAPB (9-11, 1-2 SWAC) scored in each of the first four innings, taking advantage of three Alcorn State errors. Head coach Michael Bumpers said hustling made an impact.
“If you hit a ball in the air, pop up in the infield, you run it out,” Bumpers said. “Anything can happen, but if you’re not hustling, you’re not going to get to that next bag. We go over that over and over and over again. They run enough laps, it’ll sink in to them that it’s going to be second nature to them. Today, it worked for us.”
The Lady Lions had runners on first and third base with two outs in the first inning when first baseman Samaria Jackson hit a fly ball to right field. Alcorn State right fielder Sarah Kennedy dropped what would have been the third out, allowing Tyrah Ellerby and Shalin Charles to score the game’s first runs.
In the second inning, Elerby reached on an error by Alcorn State shortstop Olivia Miller with two outs, then scored on a triple by UAPB shortstop Jada Carhee to extend the lead to 3-0.
UAPB’s only earned runs came in the third inning after three-straight two-out hits. First baseman Lauryn Adams’ drove in catcher Kaitlyn Neely, then scored on a wild pitch.
Elerby, a Pine Bluff native, made it 6-2 in the bottom of the fourth after again reaching on an error. Third baseman Amari Broughton drove her in with a single. Elerby finished with three runs and three stolen bases after reaching base each of her first three trips to the plate.
She said she focused on putting the ball into play.
“With my speed, I know getting it on the ground, I know I’ll get to first,” Elerby said. “Once I’m on first, I know I’m going home, because I can steal all them bases.”
UAPB starting pitcher Kayla Adams, a freshman, had another dominant outing. The SWAC’s ERA leader struck out 14 hitters without a walk.
She retired the first six hitters she faced and struck out eight of her first 10. She ended the game with three strikeouts in the seventh.
Adams, who got 12 of her strikeouts swinging, said her success comes from being focused with two strikes.
“[I think] right here’s the one,” Adams said. “Every pitch, think about it. Just narrow in, you and the catcher.”
Alcorn State (5-20, 0-6) scored its only runs in the third and fourth innings, and both were unearned. Miller led off the third with a single and stole second. Two errors on the play allowed her to score, though Adams responded with three-straight strikeouts to end the inning.
The Lady Braves added another unearned run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Hannah Miller, which was caught in deep foul territory. Kennedy Terry, who had reached on UAPB’s third error, scored from third.
This was UAPB’s first game in 11 days. A scheduled three-game series at Texas Southern and a midweek home game with Jackson State were all postponed due to weather.
Bumpers said the Lady Lions held an intrasquad scrimmage Wednesday to help bridge the gap, but he said the Lady Lions still seemed rusty.
“Nothing matches playing in a game,” Bumpers said. “When you have the jitters and all the stuff just going on, the noise, the atmosphere. They did a good job coming out today. Like I said, we didn’t play our best, but a win is a win.”
UAPB and Alcorn State will finish the weekend series Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.