IRONDALE, Ala. – It was a case of being too little and too late for the Alabama State softball team's late inning rally as the Lady Hornets lost to Tennessee State 8-4 Sunday at Shea Brothers Softball Complex during the third and final day of the eighth annual Tiny Laster Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Invitational. 
 
ASU (5-17) fell into a seven-run deficit and clawed back with two runs in the sixth inning and another run in the seventh before falling to the Lady Tigers (5-10) of the Ohio Valley Conference.
 
Junior first baseman Carly Evans had a big day at the plate for the Lady Hornets, going 3-for-3 including a two-run home run down the left field line. 
 
It was Evans' seventh multiple hit game and fourth home run of the season.  She also has a team-leading five games in which she has driven in multiple RBIs. 
 
Chelsea Rivera substituted in at second base in the bottom of the third inning and came up in the fourth with her first hit of the season, a double to right-center that scored pinch runner Tacresha Favors and made it a 3-1.  But Rivera was called out by the umpire after she rounded second base and came off the bag. 
 
Valerie Centeno picked up the other RBI for ASU when her single back up the middle plated Laura Aguilar. 
 
Melissa Christmann (2-5) took the loss after she worked three innings and allowed three runs on four hits.   She struck out two and did not walk a batter. 
 
Shantelle Smith and Maddie Phelps combined to pitch two scoreless innings of relief, allowing three walks and no hits. 
 
Kendall Core went 0-for-3 and had her streak of 18 consecutive games of reaching base snapped.
 
Alexis Johnson made it 15 straight games in which she has reached base by batting 1-for-2 with two walks, a double and a run scored. 
 
Next, ASU will travel to Mobile to take on No. 24 ranked South Alabama Wednesday at 6 p.m.  
 
#GOHORNETS#