HATTIESBURG, MS – The Alabama State softball team could not escape the big inning at Southern Miss in a nonconference doubleheader Wednesday at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.
 
In game one, it was a logjam of walks that hurt their chances and opened up a decisive five-run inning as the Lady Hornets lost 5-1.
 
In game two, a couple of fielding miscues extended the inning for Southern Miss and helped open up a six-run inning in an eventual 10-8 loss. 
 
Game one: Southern Miss 5, ASU 1
 
The Lady Hornets struck first in the top of the third inning when Laura Aguilar slapped an infield single to shortstop and Alexia Boggess came around to score on a throwing error. 
 
But, ASU pitchers had trouble finding the strike zone in the bottom half of the third as Southern Miss answered back with five runs aided by four walks including two walked in with the bases loaded. 
 
The Eagles sandwiched the walks with four singles and a double in the inning. 
 
Neither team scored again. 
 
The Lady Hornets failed to get much going thereafter with only one hit from the fourth inning on. 
 
Leading off the fourth, Jenna Mae Thorne beat out a throw for an infield single and then advanced to second on a wild throw that scurried away from the first baseman. 
 
However, Thorne was stranded on base after two fly ball outs and a pop out.
 
In the seventh, Charlene Castro worked out a walk after fouling several pitches off, but was unable to score. 
 
Maddie Phelps (0-3) allowed five runs on just four hits, but had four walks in two and a third innings pitched.
 
Castro came in relief and provided three and two third scoreless innings pitched. 
 
The freshman scattered five hits, walked one and struck out one. 
 
Samantha Robles tossed a three-hit, complete game for the Eagles with four strikeouts and one walk. 
 
Game two: Southern Miss 10, ASU 8
The Lady Hornets put themselves in position to win, but a critical play occurred in the bottom of the fourth with two runners on base and two out when a foul ball down the third base line dropped in between three ASU fielders.  
 
It cost Alabama State (1-6) as the inning was extended and Katie Cleary doubled down the left field line to score two runs.
 
Southern Miss took the lead on a RBI double by Michelle Stringer and added onto it with a RBI single by Bailey Stokes and a two-run single up the middle by Samantha Reynolds. 
 
In the fourth, ASU went ahead when Castro slugged a two-run home run to dead center to give Alabama State a 5-3 lead. 
 
It was the freshman's first career home run as a Lady Hornet.   

USM took a 1-0 lead in the first in a throwing error and a RBI double by left-handed designated player Katie Cleary. 
 
Alexia Boggess led off the second with a double gap shot to right center, but was left stranded. 
 
Cleary added a two-out, two-run single back up the middle in the second to give USM a 3-0 advantage.  
 
ASU battled back to tie the game at 3-3 with three runs in the third inning. 
 
Carly Evans ripped an opposite field RBI single to score Thorne, who doubled back to touch home plate and scored.
 
After a wild pitch and a walk drawn by Kendall Core, Alexis Johnson ripped a shot deep to right center. 
 
Pinch runner Chelsea Rivera reacted with heads up base running and advanced two bases to score on a sacrifice fly. 
 
Boggess followed with a RBI double in the right center gap to tie the score at 3-3. 
 
Up next
The Lady Hornets will host the Black & Gold Tournament at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex beginning Friday. 
 
ASU's first game will be against Nicholls at 2:30 p.m. (approximate) followed by a 7 p.m. (approximate) start against Maryland-Baltimore County. 
 
#GOHORNETS#