Late Dillard rally falls short in 5–3 loss at Alcorn State

LORMAN, MS — Dillard University showed late fight Tuesday afternoon, trimming a five-run deficit to two, but Alcorn State held on for a 5–3 win at Lady Braves Stadium.

After four scoreless innings for the Bleu Devils, Dillard finally broke through in the fifth when Kyiera Torrence drove in Haley Weatherspoon with an RBI single to make it 3–1. The biggest push came an inning later as Ja'Lise Stewart launched a two-run homer to left, scoring Kylie Price and cutting the margin to 5–3.

Dillard's comeback attempt was fueled by opportunistic baserunning and timely contact rather than volume at the plate. The Bleu Devils finished with four hits but made them count, with Torrence (2-for-4) and Stewart (1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI) accounting for the game's key swings. Dillard also drew three walks, working counts early against Alcorn starter S. Smith, though the Bleu Devils couldn't fully capitalize in the opening frames.

In the circle, Mary-Elizabeth Landry went the distance for Dillard, logging 6.0 innings and striking out seven while battling control issues (four walks) and Alcorn's extra-base damage. Alcorn built its lead with a sacrifice bunt RBI in the third, a two-run double by K. Dillon in the fourth, and a two-run triple by Y. Acevedo in the fifth that pushed the score to 5–1.

Alcorn reliever C. Olison steadied the game after taking over in the third, allowing the Stewart homer but otherwise limiting Dillard's chances over five innings.

Dillard left with positives despite the result: a complete-game effort from Landry, a middle-innings response after falling behind, and a sixth-inning surge that brought the tying run within reach before Alcorn shut the door.

-Bleu Devils-