MONTGOMERY, AL – With both teams fresh off three-game conference sweeps this past weekend, the Alabama State and Jacksonville State softball teams will get together for a nonconference game on Wednesday at 3 p.m. from the Barbara Williams Softball Complex.
 
The Lady Hornets (11-17) outscored SWAC opponent Prairie View A&M 21-4 in three wins on Friday and Saturday while the Gamecocks (12-13) took care of Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) opponent Tennessee Tech at home by a combined score of 15-8 to win all three games as well between Saturday and Sunday. 
 
The NCAA Division I RPI rankings were released for the first time this season on Monday as well with Jacksonville State garnering a placement inside the top 100 at No. 98 for their record and strength of schedule. 
 
Alabama State checked in at No. 269, but hold victories thus far this season against much higher ranked opponents including Eastern Michigan (No. 170), Nicholls (No. 183) and two against Savannah State (No. 226). 
 
Last season's meeting between the teams played at Jacksonville went in favor of the Gamecocks 6-1, but the Lady Hornets had a couple of opportunities to break through as it left the bases loaded twice without scoring and left seven runners stranded on base overall. 
 
"Jacksonville State is going to bring a different demeanor in the circle," said ASU head coach Chris Steiner-Wilcoxson.
 
"We know that we're going to see good pitching.  We're going to see faster pitching and that's what we like to face anyways.  It'll be a good, challenging game.  They [Jacksonville State] always have a very good program.  They're very respectful and they're going to challenge us so we need to keep carrying it on and keep our hitting going.  I'm really excited for the rest of the week." 
 
Atop the Gamecocks' pitching rotation is Whitney Gillespie (2-1 record with a 1.88 ERA and 26 strikeouts) and Casey Akenberger (5-2 record with a 2.40 ERA and 21 strikeouts).
 
Thru Monday's games, Alabama State now leads the SWAC in both hitting (.306 team batting average) and team ERA (4.28).   
 
Live stats for games can be followed here:  http://www.sidearmstats.com/alasu/softball/
 
Admission to the game is free.
 
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