Jackson State (JSU) won its first ever SWAC softball championship on Sunday, May 8. The Lady Tigers defeated Mississippi Valley State (MVSU) 6-2 at Shea Brothers Complex, earning the SWAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Jackson State entered the tournament as the second seed in the eight-team double-elimination field. The Lady Tigers were one game out from elimination, but came back to defeat Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Alcorn State twice to stay alive.
JSU never trailed in the championship finale against MVSU. Second baseman Wendi Reed put the Tigers on the board first with a solo home run and JSU plated another run for a 2-0 lead after one inning.
Reed scored again for Jackson State in the third inning pushing the Tiger advantage to 3-0.
Mississippi Valley State sent two runs across the plate in the bottom third to close within a run of the lead, but home runs by Reed and Anesha McClendon put the game out of reach for the Devilettes.
Jackson State and first year head coach Rick Fremin will now await its seeding into the NCAA Softball Tournament. The selection show airs Sunday, May 15 at 9 p.m. CST on ESPNU.
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