LORMAN &045; The ending was great, but it was the beginning that was problematic for the Alcorn Braves.

Needing just one win to clinch a spot in next weekend’s Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament, Jackson State got a one-hitter from Anthony Johnson in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader to down the Braves and end their hopes for getting into the tournament.

Alcorn regrouped for a 7-5 win in Game 2.

Johnson struck out five while walking four in the first game, and the Braves scored their lone run in the fourth to take a 1-0 lead. Louis Beatty walked with one out, went to second on a Tory Bates single and to third when Matt Richter was hit by a pitch.

Shane Phillips’ fly out to left was deep enough to score Beatty.

The Tigers, however, rallied for two runs in the sixth off Alcorn starter Cory Johnson to take the lead. With two outs Chris Outlaw singled in Ken Whiteside and later came around to score on an error in right field by Beatty.

The Braves had a chance to score in their last at-bat as Phillips reached on an error to lead off before being lifted for pinch-runner Brandon Talton. Greg White and Sly McClain struck out, but Edrick Patton reached on an error to move Talton to third.

But Talton was thrown out at the plate for the final out.

In the second game Alcorn scored two in the first and three in the second off JSU starter William Johnson thanks. They added two more in the fourth for a 7-0 lead before the Tigers scored four in the fifth.

Bates doubled in two runs in the first, and Phillips led off the second with a homer.

Courtney Dunn got two outs in the fifth before being relieved by Derian Dotson, who got the save despite allowing a run in the seventh.