BATON ROUGE — Kenneth Rowan’s two-run homer capped Alcorn State’s five-run eighth inning rally and lifted the Braves to an 8-7 win over Mississippi Valley State in an elimination game of the 2009 SWAC Tournament.

Alcorn State (26-18) advances to play Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 9 a.m. Friday.

Trailing 7-3 in the eighth, Alcorn State’s first five batters scored.

Joel DelGrande’s RBI single and Eduardo Gonzales’ two-run triple brought the Braves to within one at 7-6. Rowan then homered to left field to give Alcorn State the lead for good.

Collin Arnold (5-5) got the win in relief, pitching the final two innings.

Arnold retired Mississippi Valley State 1-2-3 in the ninth with two strikeouts, including striking out Hogan Barnes to end the game.

Valley had taken a 5-3 lead after six innings.Trailing 3-1 after four, the Delta Devils scored three runs in the top of the sixth on a bases-clearing double by Sean Bard.

Mississippi Valley State (20-29) had extended to a 7-3 lead in the top of the eighth before Alcorn State’s comeback against MVSU losing pitcher Justin Bautista (2-3).