IRONDALE, Ala. – First, the Lady Hornets softball team made huge plays with their legs.
 
Then, the balls started jumping off their bats as Alabama State picked up two wins on Saturday by downing Morgan State 9-5 in the morning game and then took care of Faulkner 8-4 in the afternoon at Shea Brothers Softball Complex during day two of the eighth annual Tiny Laster Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Invitational. 
 
It was a momentum builder for ASU (5-16), who stopped a losing skid and did it in style by raking 13 hits apiece in each victory. 
 
"I was really proud of our offense today for stepping up," said ASU coach Chris Steiner-Wilcoxson. "I'm trying to get them to believe in an aggressive offense.  They listened today and executed today.  Being aggressive made other things happen for us.  Then, we were able to hit and that built our confidence.  Once we got some runs on the board, we were able to be comfortable and not press.  You could tell that the power had carried over to the second game." 
 
In the first game, each Lady Hornet in the starting lineup had at least one hit and the team stole 10 bases including four by Laura Aguilar and two by Jenna Mae Thorne.
 
Aguilar, Kendall Core, Aleesa Yanez and Carly Evans all collected two hits.
 
Alabama State methodically tacked on a run in the second, third and fourth innings before breaking out with a four-run fifth inning.
 
In the inning, Alexis Johnson had a rip-roaring double down the left field line that plated Core and Brittney Wilson. 
 
Jazzmin Romero followed with a bunt that was misplayed causing Johnson to score.  Then, Aguilar delivered with a RBI single to center field that scored Evans. 
 
In the sixth inning, Core blasted a two-run home run to left, her second of the season, to increase ASU's lead to 9-3. 
 
On the mound, Melissa Christmann (2-4) went the distance for the first time this season and struck out a season-best eight batters.  She allowed just four hits, but all were home runs.
 
The Bears dropped to 0-8.
 
In the second game, Johnson enjoyed a huge day at the plate by batting 4-for-4 with a solo home run, a two-run home run and three runs scored to jolt the Lady Hornets' offense. 
 
In the second inning, Johnson's home run deflected off the left field foul pole. 
 
In the fourth, the junior designated player smashed another homer to left to drive in Valerie Centeno. 
 
Centeno, Yanez and Evans all had two hits apiece for Alabama State.
 
Maddie Phelps (3-8) went the full seven innings and allowed four runs on eight hits.  She struck out two. 
 
Core and Johnson both extended their reached base streaks. 
 
Core extended her streak to 18 consecutive games of reaching base while Johnson made it 14 straight games in which she has reached base.
 
The Eagles fell to 4-3. 
 
ASU will wrap up play on the third—and final day—of the Tiny Laster Invitational by finishing against Tennessee State Sunday at 1:30 p.m.  
#GOHORNETS#