GULFPORT, Miss. – The Jackson State University softball team's run in the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament ended Friday with an 8-5 loss to defending champion Alabama State in the semifinals.
 
After dropping game one on Tuesday, the Lady Tigers won three consecutive elimination games to put themselves on the brink of a championship matchup against Prairie View A&M, but it was not to be.
 
The Lady Tigers scored first for the fourth straight game. Lauren Stewart led off the game with a triple to right center and scored on wild pitch for a 1-0 lead. Mari Stephens then reached on an infield single and advanced to second on the throw. After a ground out, Isabel Gusman's sacrifice fly gave JSU a 2-0 lead.
 
After Alabama State went up 4-2 after two innings, JSU tied the score in the third. With one out, Stephens  and Ariel Arredondo hit back-to-back singles, and Gusman was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Monica Serrano then singled to left scoring Stephens, and Keys walked to score Arredondo to tie the game at 4-4.
 
However, Alabama State scored three runs in the bottom of the third and one in the fourth to regain the lead for good.
 
JSU scored its final run in the fifth. Serrano doubled to right center with one out and scored on a two-out single by Keys.
 

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