Box Score DECATUR, Ala. – The Alabama State softball team advanced to the 2013 Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship game by defeating Jackson State 11-2 in the semifinal round on Friday afternoon. This will be the first official time in program's history that the Lady Hornets made it to the title game and the first time ever ASU has gone 3-0 in the conference tournament.
First pitch between the tournament's Eastern division third seed Lady Hornets (15-32 overall) and the second seeded Mississippi Valley State Devilettes (24-30) is set for 2 p.m. The game will broadcast live on ESPN3.com and will be tape-delayed on ESPNU at 9 p.m. (CT) Saturday evening.
“The ladies showed up with a keen focus today and stuck to the game plan,” Head Coach Telma Hall said. “Defeating JSU, after sweeping us a few weeks ago, was much needed momentum going into tomorrow.”
“The ladies never lost hope and faith in each other. Yeah, we made some adjustments here and there but the main thing we had our minds set on was to never lose faith in our mission, change the environment, and do what has never been done before in program's history.”
A one-out walk to junior
Tamara Williams gave Alabama State its first base runner of the contest. Junior captain
Meagan Dixon homered to right centerfield giving ASU a two-run lead in the top of the first and the Lady Hornets never looked back. Alabama State went down went three-and-out in the second before rallying to produce five runs in the third, started by senior co-captain
Brehanna Rodrigues's single to centerfield.
Williams singled and advanced to second on the throw; while Rodrigues landed on third. Dixon flied out to left field, before the Lady Tigers decided to intentionally walk freshman
Makayla Webster to pitch to senior
Kim Ross. Ross reached on a fielder's choice; while Rodrigues was a victim to a 6-2 putout at home. Freshman
Aleesa Yanez tripled to center field, scoring Williams, Webster, and Ross. Junior
Stephanie Hernandez doubled to left center, bringing Yanez home from third.
Bailey Patt singled, scoring Hernandez from second, making it a 7-0 ballgame.
The Lady Hornets went scoreless in the fourth but added four more runs additional runs in the top of the fifth.
JSU tried rallying back in the bottom of the fifth, but it wasn't enough, capping an 11-2 contest.
Destyni Valencia went the distance on the mound for Alabama State, giving up only one hit, five walks; while striking out two and no earned runs.
“I am enjoying the moment of the firsts,” Hall stated about the team's historical day. “We have had a lot of memorable moments this year, so I am just enjoying the moment. I am really enjoying the moment and that's all I can say. We are 3-0 today, but back to 0-0 tomorrow.”
#Hornets#
