MONTGOMERY, AL – No comebacks were needed this time.
 
The ASU softball team got out in front with leads in both games of their doubleheader and piled on for more in a convincing 14-3 game one win in five innings and then shut the opposition down in a 4-0 game two victory to capture a three-game conference series sweep against Prairie View A&M on Saturday at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex.
 
Alabama State (11-17 overall, 3-0 SWAC) quickly broke it open in the first game by scoring six runs in the opening frame.
 
Junior third baseman Kendall Core rifled a three-run home run to center field to put ASU on top 3-0 and then blasted a solo home run in the second inning to increase the lead to 7-0.
 
The Lady Hornets were just getting started as the team struck with seven more runs in the third inning.
 
Valerie Centeno and Carly Evans each sandwiched RBI singles around Jenna Mae Thorne's two-run base hit.
 
Alexia Boggess knocked in two more runs on a RBI single of her own to right field to score both Amira James and Lexi Grimaldo. 
 
Brittney Wilson concluded the scoring for ASU with a RBI groundout to make it 14-0. 
 
Core finished 3-for-3 with two home runs, four RBI and two runs scored.
 
In the process, Core moved past Ayeesha Famble (played from 2009-2012) for third place all-time in Alabama State softball history with career home runs with 16.
 
Melissa Christmann (4-6) picked up the victory after working four innings and allowed three runs on five hits. 
 
She struck out three and walked three.
 
Christmann earned her 19^th career victory to move past Melissa Evans (played from 1999-2001) for fifth place all-time in Alabama State history for wins.
 
Game 2: Alabama State 4, Prairie View A&M 0
Maddie Phelps recorded her first shutout of the season and the team's second on the year with a three-hitter.
 
It was the Lady Hornets' first shutout since Feb. 19 when it blanked Maryland-Baltimore County 3-0. 
 
Phelps (7-7) worked briskly and only had to throw 92 pitches to get it done. 
 
She struck out five and walked just one batter as only one player on the Panthers reached third base in the game.
 
Phelps' season ERA dipped to 2.80. 
 
Offensively, ASU opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning on a RBI single by Boggess that drove home Aleesa Yanez.
 
In the third inning, Alabama State padded their lead on a RBI single off a bunt by Core, a single to center by Charlene Castro and a misplayed ball that deflected off Panthers' centerfielder Peyton Simms that allowed Core to score. 
 
The Lady Hornets made it 4-0 when Evans' sacrifice fly RBI plated Castro, who tagged up and scored.
 
"I'm really excited about the girls because your first conference games set the tone for the rest of the big games," said ASU head coach Chris Steiner-Wilcoxson.
 
"You want to work out the kinks.  The pitching is different.  We wanted to make sure that we came in and were ready to go.  We got a lot of people some playing time this weekend and got their feet wet.  I think this was a good start for our program."
 
The Panthers dropped to 3-15 overall and 0-3 in the SWAC. 
 
Up next
The Lady Hornets will continue their home stand as they get ready to take on non-conference opponent Jacksonville State on Wednesday from the Barbara Williams Softball Complex.
 
First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
#GOHORNETS#