Garrett's game-winning hit sends MVSU Devilettes into semifinals

COURTESY MVSU ATHLETICS

DECATUR, Alabama -- For the second straight day at the SWAC Softball Tournament, "The Comeback Kids" of Mississippi Valley State came from behind Thursday to stay in the winner's bracket.

Jahcenda Garrett had a walkoff single to center field in the bottom of the seventh inning to send the Devilettes past rival Jackson State, 8-7, at Wilson Morgan Park. Valley fought its way back from an early 5-0 deficit to beat the No.1-seeded Lady Tigers, who fall into the loser's bracket.

Going into the bottom of the seventh inning, MVSU trailed 7-5 before putting up three runs to secure a spot in Friday's semifinal game at 10 a.m.

"I have to give it to our players and coaching staff, they never gave up," said MVSU head coach Lee Smith. "No matter what situation we've found ourselves in during this tournament, they've kept their focus and gotten the job done. I couldn't be any prouder of our group."

MVSU cut the lead to 7-6 after a bases loaded walk with two outs by Brandi Williams. Garrett followed it up with one of the biggest hits of her career to put away JSU.

The Lady Tigers had taken the momentum early in the game by running out to a 5-0 lead after two innings, but Valley responded with an RBI-single by Tracey Williams in the third inning to cut the lead to 5-1. Then, the Devilettes had its largest offensive output in the fourth inning when Valley put up four runs -- with three of them coming on a home run by Deja Talton, her fifth of the season, that tied the game at five.

JSU, however, fought back with two runs of its own in the top of the fifth inning on a pair of MVSU errors.

After both teams went scoreless in the sixth inning, it was MVSU that came out victorious thanks to the game-winning heroics of the Nashville native Garrett, who leads the Devilettes in batting average.

Cassandra Rivera (5-19) earned the win, giving up five earned runs on seven hits with one strikeout in 3.2 innings of work on the mound.

Talton led the Devilettes with three RBIs and Tracey Williams went 2-for-4 at the plate for Valley, which finished with seven hits in the game. JSU committed four errors in the contest.     
Box Score

COURTESY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION