LORMAN &045; Torry Bates doesn’t get all scientific when it comes to taking the mound. Normally the Game 1 weekend starter, he got the ball in Game 4 Sunday and took the same approach as he always had.

Just give him the ball.

That was his mindset Sunday in his six-hitter when the Braves took the final game 6-1 for a series split. But Alcorn head coach Willie &uot;Rat&uot; McGowan admitted he was hesitant to even hand it over to Bates.

The talented but troubled sophomore hasn’t had the solid season of a year ago, and the veteran coach confessed the hardest-throwing pitcher on the team was on his last leg.

&uot;He should have been doing that all year,&uot; McGowan said. &uot;He’s got too many problems, and he’s bringing his problems on the field. We’re getting to a point where he’s either going to have to step up or we’re going to have to let him go. A baseball game is one thing, but teaching a kid good etiquette and respect is what it’s all about.

&uot;He did an outstanding job today, and we are proud of him. He can do that consistently.&uot;

That may be the most frustrating part of the season for McGowan and staff, perhaps more frustrating than the 5-1 loss in Game 1 Sunday that officially knocked the Braves out of postseason contention.

It’s been no secret the honeymoon was over midway through the season when Bates &045; a first-team Preseason All-SWAC selection &045; got sent to the bench for almost an entire series with Alabama State. But on Sunday he had the breaking pitch and the curveball working, and he hit his spots well.

Bates struck out seven, walked four and hit two batters. Just as important, the Braves had just one error.

&uot;It doesn’t matter (when I pitch), I just get in mind to go out there and pitch,&uot; Bates said. &uot;Everything came together at once. The first game we kind of started off slow, but the second game everybody came together. We came together and did it.&uot;

It all may have come together for Bates in the third when the Delta Devils had the bases loaded with one out and trailed 2-1. He gave up a single to Zach Penprase following a strikeout of Jermaine Shack, and that brought big cleanup hitter Nathan Purvis up with speed at second and third.

Bates worked the count full before getting the left-handed Purvis to look at a pitch on the inside corner for a third strike.

&uot;I just want to get in there and pitch. That’s all I wanted to do,&uot; Bates said. &uot;It was something unexpected. (Purvis) was looking most likely for an offspeed pitch away. But I came inside with a fastball. Then I got into my little zone where not too much really got to me. The only thing I was focused on was the mitt.&uot;

That moment perhaps turned the game around, and Chad Williams flied out to Rodney Hayes in left field to end the inning. The Delta Devils had just three hits off Bates after that, including a Purvis single in the sixth that didn’t amount to anything when Bates got Johnny Phillips to strike out to end the inning with Purvis stranded on third.

&uot;I’m worried about us,&uot; Valley head coach Doug Shanks said. &uot;We’re going to pitch well, and normally we’ll play good defense. But we do the most little-leagueish things at the worst times. We had the bases loaded and didn’t score. But I don’t want to take anything away from Alcorn.&uot;

The Braves played strong defense behind Bates, and later in the game they got after freshman starter Jonathon Stovall to get a nice cushion. Stovall did well through three and got two outs in the fourth before the Braves strung together five singles for a rally.

Shane Phillips, who doubled in a run in the second, started it off with a single and went to second on a Hayes infield single. Then part-time outfielder and 9-hole hitter Greg White came up with the key hit on an 0-2 count to drive in Phillips and ignite the rally.

Corey Wimberly then singled in Hayes and White for a 5-1 lead.

&uot;We had a nice two-out rally, and that’s the way we won that ball game up in Valley (Saturday),&uot; McGowan said. &uot;The first game (Sunday) we didn’t hit, and the first game up there we didn’t hit. It’s about maturity on this ball club, and we have to find somebody who is on.&uot;

White has real good speed, and he can hit the ball hard.&uot;

It was the turning point for Stovall, who allowed just that Phillips double as the only hard-hit ball up until then. Sylvester McClain continued the rally with a single to score Wimberly, and Jermaine Clarke flied out to left to end the inning.

Stovall didn’t return after the fourth.

&uot;We threw (White) two curveballs, and what should have we thrown him? A curveball,&uot; Shanks said. &uot;But we threw him a fastball. I give him credit &045; he drove it. I have a senior back there who called it, and you can’t have that.&uot;