The Lady Hornets will see their first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Eastern Division opponent of the season when Alabama State travels to Jackson, MS, to take on Jackson State in a three-game weekend series beginning on Friday at 2 p.m. from the JSU Softball Stadium. 

Game time on Friday has been moved up four hours from its original start time after threatening rain is expected to be in the area during the evening hours.

The series will continue Saturday with a noon start for a doubleheader. 

The top three teams in the SWAC's East Division are bunched closely in the standings. 

Alabama State (10-23 overall, 4-1 conference) currently sits in first place by percentage points over Alabama A&M (12-16 overall, 5-2 SWAC) and holds a one-game lead over Jackson State (13-20 overall, 4-3 SWAC).

"It'll be a great road challenge for us," said ASU softball coach Chris Steiner-Wilcoxson. "We know that Jackson has a reputation of being a good team.  This series is going to be about who wants it more.  We know that they're going to put pressure on us defensively so we will have to be ready to play 21 solid innings of ball and minimize mistakes."    

Despite dropping Tuesday's night game to Samford 6-1, ASU still ranks second in the SWAC in team batting average (.313).

Sophomore center fielder Valerie Centeno leads the conference in hits (39), junior designated player Alexis Johnson leads the SWAC in doubles (nine), home runs (six), total bases (61) and junior left fielder Jenna Mae Thorne shares a hold of the conference lead for triples with four. 

ASU ranks sixth in the SWAC in team ERA (6.80). 

Junior Melissa Christmann ranks fourth in ERA among regulars with a 6.17 ERA, fourth in innings pitched (81.2), fourth in strikeouts (50) and is tied for third in wins (five). 

The Lady Tigers enter the contest having won five of its previous seven games including a split at Memphis (4-1 win, 9-1 loss) on Wednesday. 

In conference play, Jackson State took two of three games against Mississippi Valley State and ran a record of 2-2 in the SWAC Round-Up that took place in Conroe, TX. 

JSU has been a middle-of-the-pack hitting team as it ranks sixth in the conference with a .246 team batting average. 

The Lady Tigers thrive running the bases, however, as the team ranks sixth in the NCAA in stolen bases. 

Much of that success has been generated from the legs of Victoria Nelson and Canessa Swanson. 

Each player shares a hold of the conference lead in the category with 23 stolen bases apiece.

Jackson State has also been one of the best in the conference in pitching as the Lady Tigers hold a 5.13 team ERA, good for second best in the SWAC. 

Senior Kelsey Townsend has been one of the SWAC's most consistent hurlers, ranking first in ERA among regulars (4.13), wins (nine) and innings pitched (109).

Townsend ranks second in strikeouts (60) and appearances (17). 

Live stats will be available for all the games by clicking here:  http://www.sidearmstats.com/alasu/softball/.
 
Tweets will be made throughout the game @ASUBUZZ. 
 
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