VICKSBURG, Miss. -- The Miles softball team got into the win column for the first time in 2020 with a 4-2 win over Division I Alcorn State Saturday afternoon at Sports Force Parks. The Lady Bears (1-5), who had lost earlier in the day to Jackson State, jumped in front early before staving off a late comeback effort from the Lady Braves (4-6).

Miles scored twice with two outs in the second to take the lead. Kristie Looney's infield single scored Yasmin Cottingham to get the Lady Bears on the board. A wild pitch plated Lydia Rodriguez for a 2-0 lead. The Lady Bears added another two-out run in the third. Alexus Gonzalez and Emerald Coachman started the frame with back-to-back singles. A double play moved Gonzalez to third and she would score when Cottingham reached on an error. Coachman added a sacrifice fly in the fifth for a 4-1 lead.

That would be enough for Miles pitcher Magen Rich, who earned the complete-game victory. She gave up a RBI single to Sandrea Hord in the fourth and hit her with a pitch in the sixth to bring in a run. But she allowed just six hits and two walks with a strikeout. She also came up big in the seventh, getting the last three outs with each hitter representing the tying run.

Gonzales and Kiana Terry each had two hits for Miles, which will play Jackson State on Sunday at 11 a.m. and follow at 2 p.m. with a rematch against Alcorn State.