Brad McDavid’s three-run double in the third inning helped the Jaguars to a 9-6 lead after three innings. Todd Stevenson’s three-run homer in the fourth inning gave Southern a 12-6 lead after 3 ½ innings.

However, the Braves (29-19) battled back and chipped away as they did all week in bouncing back from a tournament-opening loss to win four consecutive games to earn a title game berth. Alcorn State scored single runs in fourth and fifth innings to cut the deficit to 12-8.

In the eighth, RBIs by Adrian Bowens and Jabari Graham brought the Braves to within 12-10 heading into the ninth.

Quintillius Billings led off the Braves’ ninth with single but Southern reliever Daniel Garcia induced Eduardo Gonzalez into a double play. Alcorn’s Kenneth Rowan then singled to right to again bring the tying run to the plate, but Rowan was forced on a fielder’s choice at second base to end the game.

Southern pitcher Jarrett Maloy was named Most Valuable Player, going 2-0 in tournament play.

Retiring Alcorn State head coach Willie “Rat” McGowan Sr., winner of over 700 career games in his career, was denied the SWAC Title in his final game as head coach. Southern won its 26th conference baseball championship and first since 2005.

2009 SWAC All-Tournament Team

David Arrendondo, Texas Southern; Manny Kumar, Grambling State; Charles Derkowski, Texas Southern; Milt Barney, Grambling State; Jesse Olivar, Southern; Jamaal Thelwell, Jackson State; Jerome McCollum, Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff; Brad McDavid, Southern; James Armstrong, Southern; Jabari Graham, Alcorn State; Joshua Brufield, Alcorn State.

Most Valuable Player: Jarrett Maloy, Southern.

JAGS TO STAY HOME FOR NCAA REGIONALS

The 2009 SWAC Baseball Champion Southern Jaguars will play in the Baton Rouge Regional of the NCAA Baseball Tournament, hosted by LSU. Southern will play LSU at 1 p.m. Friday. Minnesota and Baylor are the other teams in the regional.

This is the 11th NCAA Baseball Tournament appearance in school history for Southern, the fifth time this decade and its first since 2005. The SWAC has won four games in NCAA Baseball Tournament play. Southern has won three NCAA Tournament games, in 1987, 1996 and 2003, and Texas Southern won in 2004.