April 28, 2006

Itta Bena, MS - In a game which saw seven errors and a last-ditch offensive attack, the Southern University Lady Jaguars held off the Jackson State University Lady Tigers 8-6 and moved to the semifinals of the Southwestern Athletic Conference softball tournament. This year's semifinal round will be a repeat of the 2005 semifinal game in which SU pulled out a 4-1 victory over host Mississippi Valley State University before losing to the Delta Devilettes in the tournament championship.

Southern (27-22, 17-7 SWAC), was lead by senior Jayme Roberts who finished with two hits and two runs scored in four at-bats. Senior Jamila Taylor tallied two hits and a run scored while junior Candice Stevens, senior Samisha Bledsoe, sophomore's Brittany Richardson, Tiffany Darville and junior Brittany Jefferson each scored a run for the Lady Jags.

Jackson State was guided by Ebony Stevenson, finishing with three hits, a run scored and another run batted it. Katelyn Jackson, Heather Shove, and Heather Bates each had two hits for the Lady Tigers (26-21).

After scoring two runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning, the Blue and Gold surrendered four runs in the third inning and found themselves behind 4-2. Southern came back to score six runs over the next two innings to take an 8-5 lead. Jackson State would score one in the top of the seventh, but could not make their way to a victory in the contest.

Bledsoe gained her sixth win of the season (6-5) scattering six hits and four runs over four innings. Shove allowed six runs in 3 2/3 innings. Jefferson hit her third home run in the last five games for SU. She currently has five on the year.

Earlier this year Southern traveled to Itta Bena, Mississippi and went 1-3 in a four series with Valley. During the contests their were two games that went to extra innings and one that was finished in five. Valley took game one in 0-1 in ten innings. Southern won game two 4-3. Valley then proceeded to take games three and four 0-9 and 3-4 to win the series.

Jackson State will now play Alcorn State in the elimination bracket Friday afternoon at 5:30 pm; Southern will play the Delta Devilettes in the third day of competition. The game is schedule to start at 1:30 pm on the campus of Mississippi Valley.