MOBILE, Ala. – The Alabama State University softball team dropped a pair of games to open the 2017 season in the Sand Dollar Invitational hosted by the University of South Alabama Friday afternoon.

Alabama State (0-2) dropped the opener to Houston Baptist 10-3 despite pounding eight hits, including a pair by Parry Hindi. The senior first baseman went 2-for-3 in the contest with a pair of runs batted, while six other Lady Hornets picked up a hit each in the loss.

The Lady Hornets fell behind early after giving up all 10 of the runs in the first three innings, including six in the second inning to Houston Baptist. They were able to get on the board in the second inning with a single run when Brittney Wilson scored on a wild pitch after reaching on a double to right center to trim the deficit to 7-1.

Alabama State was able to score another pair of runs in the fifth inning after a Valerie Centeno one-out single, as she later scored on a two-run home run by Hindi.

Charlene Castro (0-1) suffered the loss in the opener for the Lady Hornets, last 1.1 innings and giving up six runs (five earned) on just three hits. Justine Jean and Vanessa Bradford combined to go the final 5.2 innings, allowing four runs off of five hits.
In their final game of the day, Alabama State could not overcome seven-run second inning by Jacksonville State as they fell to the Gamecocks 12-1. In the loss three players – Centeno, Hindi and Castro – combined to pick up the three Lady Hornet hits.

The Lady Hornets were able to get on the scoreboard in the fourth inning following a Centeno singled to center to lead off the inning. After Amira James was inserted to run, she advanced all the way to third on a Hindi single to right center. She scored when Castro hit the third consecutive single for the Lady Hornets in the inning to put Alabama State on the board.

Bradford (0-1) suffered the loss after working 3.1 innings and allowing 10 runs (seven earned) on six hits, while striking out two. Jean worked the final 1.2 innings, allowing two runs off of three hits in the loss.

Alabama State returns to action Saturday morning against Houston Baptist at 10 am on day two of the Sand Dollar Invitational at Jaguar Field.

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