ITTA BENA, MS -- Last season, it was a series that started a six-game winning streak for the Lady Hornets and saw the team play some of its best softball of the season.

In 2014, Alabama State took a three-game home sweep from Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division rival Mississippi Valley State and outscored them 32-11.

The Lady Hornets (11-26 overall, 5-3 SWAC) are hoping the match up can ignite another long winning streak as the teams begin to hit the home stretch toward the SWAC Tournament in early May. 

However, the venue changes to Itta Bena, MS, where the teams will meet at the MVSU Softball Complex.

The three-game series is scheduled to begin Friday with a first pitch set for 6 p.m.

The series will continue Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader. 

It will be Alumni weekend and the home opener for the Devilettes (9-27 overall, 4-4 SWAC). 

Valley holds a 4-6 record over its past 10 games and is coming off a 10-0 run-ruled victory at SWAC foe Alcorn State on Friday. 

Freshman Rebekah Clinton (3-2) is coming off a strong effort in which she pitched five scoreless innings and allowed just two hits and struck out four. 

Seven different Valley players have one hit apiece with sophomore third baseman Deja Talton driving in two runs. 

The Devilettes have faced one of the most difficult nonconference schedules in the SWAC, facing teams such as Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Idaho State, Saint Louis and Mississippi State. 

The stiff competition has hampered their numbers a bit as the team hits just .235 collectively and holds a team ERA of 8.97. 

Both rankings are last in the SWAC. 

Redshirt freshman Ane Pahulu leads the Devilettes with a .317 batting average, four home runs and 12 RBI. 

Talton leads the squad in home runs with five and RBI with 17. 

Across the dugout, ASU is coming off a 6-1 defeat at Jacksonville State on Tuesday evening.

Carly Evans blasted her fifth home run of the season and Melissa Christmann provided one and one thirds scoreless innings in relief in the defeat. 

The Lady Hornets were beginning to show signs of continuity when it soundly won at Jackson State 10-3 last Friday, but ASU has now dropped three straight games leading into this weekend series with Valley. 

"We have to show up for all three games," said ASU softball coach Chris Steiner-Wilcoxson. "Can we turn the corner?  Their [Mississippi Valley State's] schedule shows that they are battle-tested and ready for the big games.  I feel like we've played a pretty competitive schedule too.  It's going to show on the field.  They'll be very competitive and they're not going to lie down for anybody." 

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