Gulfport, Miss. — Jackson State defeated Prairie View A&M 8-2 in an elimination game at the SWAC Softball Tournament on Wednesday morning at the Gulfport Sportsplex. The Tigers used a balanced offense and strong pitching to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Jackson State scored early, with Brooklyn Morris driving in Ariana Murillo on an RBI single in the first inning. The Tigers added to their lead in the third inning when Avelina Mclean singled to left field, driving in Jace Jackson. Meah Almaraz’s single up the middle scored Ka’Liyah Gipson in the fourth. Jackson State extended its lead with runs in the fifth and sixth innings, despite Prairie View’s efforts to rally.
The Panthers scored twice in the sixth inning, highlighted by an RBI from Isabela Rodriguez, but Jackson State’s pitching held firm. The Tigers pulled away in the seventh inning with three runs, including a triple from Jace Jackson that brought home Murillo. Almaraz doubled to right field, and Morris capped the inning with a double, scoring Almaraz and boosting the lead to 8-2.
Jackson State’s disciplined approach at the plate was key, as the team worked deep counts and capitalized on scoring opportunities. Offensively, Almaraz went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and five times on base. Morris finished with two hits, two RBIs, and earned the win on the mound with a complete game, allowing two runs on six hits with four strikeouts. Murillo led off the lineup, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Jace Jackson reached base four times, scored three runs, and hit a triple.
The Tigers will face Alabama State in their next game Thursday morning at 10:30 a.m. in the SWAC Tournament.
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