GRAMBLING, LA – For the Alabama State softball team, it was a weekend of firsts and one where everything seemed to go their way.
 
Senior right hander Melissa Christmann pitched the team's second no-hitter in as many days, the staff secured a third straight shutout overall and their bats pelted the ball all over Grambling's field to the tune of 10-0 and 12-0 victories on Saturday in run-ruled shortened five inning games.
 
For Christmann, it was her first no-hitter as a Lady Hornet as she zipped through the Lady Tigers' lineup on 85 pitches and struck out a season-high 10. 
 
The Burlingame, Calif. native only allowed three batters to reach base via walks. 
 
They were without incident, however, as Grambling (3-19 overall, 1-5 SWAC) was unable to push across a run all weekend, getting outscored 34-0 in the three-game series.
 
"I just focused," said Christmann, who believed that she last threw a no-hitter in travel softball just before she began high school.  
 
"My two-seam fastball was working well and I was able to move pitches in and out with my location.  My out pitches were working really well."
 
As was the case a day earlier with ASU pitcher Maddie Phelps in the circle and about to throw her no-hitter, Christmann said that she was unaware of the circumstances until after the game had ended. 
 
And, just like yesterday, ASU senior catcher Aleesa Yanez knew the situation and was ready to run out to congratulate her once the final out was made.
 
"Off her Aleesa's [Yanez] reaction, it was then that I realized that I had it," Christmann said.  "She [Yanez] kept me calm and focused.  Everybody was behind me and ready to make the plays.  It [the weekend sweep] gives us confidence moving forward."
 
ASU assistant coach Jeremy Leak was proud of the team's pitching performances in the series and reinforced the idea that the players must believe in themselves to succeed.
 
"I always tell our pitchers to trust yourself and make sure that you're focused on what you need to do," Leak said.
 
"Trust your mechanics and the game will take of themselves." 
 
The Lady Hornets (14-18 overall, 6-0 SWAC) once again put on a hitting display as the team combined for 21 hits in the doubleheader including two home runs apiece by Valerie Centeno and Alexia Boggess.
 
It was the first home runs of the season for Centeno and the first home runs as a Lady Hornet for Boggess. 
 
Centeno's three-run shot in the fourth inning bashed off the scoreboard in right center field and broke it up for a 7-0 lead.  She would finish 1-for-2 with four RBI, two walks, and two runs scored.
 
Charlene Castro worked all five innings and allowed just two hits.  She struck out three and earned her first collegiate victory. 
 
In game two, Centeno smacked another home run to get ASU jumpstarted with a 2-0 lead in the first inning. 
 
Boggess followed with a two-run home run in the second and Castro put the game further out of reach with a grand slam to make it a 9-0 lead in the fourth. 
 
Boggess added her second blast to center an inning later.
 
Castro batted 4-for-4 with four RBI and a run scored and Boggess went 3-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored.
 
Grambling State dropped to 3-19 overall and 1-5 in the SWAC.
 
Up next
Alabama State gets ready to take on non-conference opponent Mercer University on Wednesday for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.

Live stats for the games can be followed here:  http://www.sidearmstats.com/alasu/softball/
 
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