ITTA BENA, MS — Southern University turned an early collapse into another statement victory Sunday, erupting late to defeat Mississippi Valley State 12-8 and complete its fourth consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference series sweep.
The Jaguars trailed by five runs after two innings and were still down entering the seventh before unleashing a relentless offensive barrage, scoring 10 runs over the final three innings to overwhelm Mississippi Valley at Magnolia Field.
Southern's comeback was fueled by a 19-hit performance and timely extra-base hitting, erasing a game that appeared firmly in Valley's control early.
"We just stayed with it," said Chris Crenshaw. "That's what this group has done during this stretch — they don't panic."
Mississippi Valley seized momentum in the second inning, capitalizing on control issues from Southern starter Quincy Thornton. The Delta Devils used a mix of walks, hit batters and timely hitting to score five runs despite collecting just two hits in the frame. A two-run double by Stephen Landaz in the sixth extended Valley's lead to 7-2, putting Southern in a deeper hole heading into the late innings. But the Jaguars never let the game slip away.
Southern chipped away with single runs in the fourth and sixth innings before delivering the decisive blow in the seventh. Kameron Byrd reached base to ignite the rally, and Jacoby Radcliffe followed with a two-run home run to right field, cutting the deficit to one and shifting momentum. Moments later, Xavier Bradley ripped a two-run double to give Southern its first lead of the afternoon.
The Jaguars weren't finished. After Mississippi Valley briefly tied the game at 8-8 in the bottom half of the seventh, Southern answered immediately in the eighth. Byrd delivered a two-run single to tie the game, and Glenn Green III followed with an RBI double to put the Jaguars ahead for good at 9-8.
Southern tacked on three insurance runs in the ninth, aided by aggressive base-running and a Valley error, to put the game out of reach. Southern's lineup produced contributions from top to bottom, with nine starters combining for 19 hits and 11 RBI's. Green III led the way with a dominant 5-for-6 performance, including three RBI's and multiple extra-base hits.
KJ White Jr. set the tone at the top of the order, going 4-for-5 with two runs scored, while Jaylon Lucky added two hits and reached base three times.
Radcliffe and Bradley delivered the biggest swings of the game, each driving in three runs. Radcliffe's seventh-inning home run ignited the comeback, and Bradley's bases-clearing production helped flip the scoreboard. Byrd also played a pivotal role, scoring three runs and driving in two.
Bullpen slams the door
Southern's pitching staff stabilized after a rocky start. Thornton allowed five runs in 1 2/3 innings, but the bullpen combined to limit further damage and give the offense time to rally.
Genesis Prosper (2-1) earned the win with 1 2/3 innings of relief, allowing one run while keeping the game within reach.
Caleb Ellis closed it out in dominant fashion, striking out five over two hitless innings to record his sixth save and secure the sweep.
By the numbers
- Southern scored 10 runs in the final three innings after tallying just two through six.
- The Jaguars collected 19 hits to Valley's nine.
- Southern had six players with multiple hits.
- Mississippi Valley committed three errors, contributing to unearned runs and extended innings.
- Valley drew eight walks but stranded 10 runners.
Keys to victory
Resilience: Southern didn't waver after falling behind 5-0 early, continuing to apply pressure inning after inning.
Timely hitting: The Jaguars delivered in clutch situations, particularly with two outs during the seventh and eighth innings.
Bullpen efficiency: Southern relievers combined to strike out nine and allowed just three runs over the final 7 1/3 innings.
Capitalizing on mistakes: Valley's defensive miscues and pitching struggles in the late innings opened the door for Southern's decisive rally.
The win capped another dominant weekend for Southern, which has now swept four straight conference opponents, surging into the heart of the SWAC race with momentum on both sides of the ball. Southern continues to find ways to win — and on Sunday, it did so in emphatic comeback fashion.
Up Next:
Southern will be back in action on Tuesday evening as they host the Tigers from Jackson State University at 6 PM. The game will be streamed live on Jaguar Sports Network.
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