MOBILE, Ala. – The Alabama State University softball team powered their way to a split on the final day of the Sand Dollar Classic hosted by the University of South Alabama on Sunday.
Alabama State (1-4) picked up their first win of the season behind three extra base hits, including a pair of home runs in a 7-5 victory over Central Arkansas in the opener Sunday morning. The Lady Hornets picked up 10 hits on the day as a team, including home runs from
Perry Hindi and
Kendall Core.
The Lady Hornets jumped on the board quickly in the first with
Charlene Castro reached on a fielding error, allowing
Laura Aguilar to score from third for the 1-0 lead; a lead Alabama State would not relinquish throughout the game. They added another run in the second when
Brittney Wilson stole home in the second inning for a two run lead, before the Lady Hornets exploded in the third inning.
Therese Byrne led off the inning with a singled to right, and stole second before
Perry Hindi drew a walk and
Charlene Castro reached on a fielder's choice. After Castro was lifted for a pinch runner,
Kendall Core – the preseason SWAC Player of the Year – hit her first home run of the season to right to put Alabama State ahead 5-1 after three innings.
The Lady Hornets would add another pair of runs in the seventh Hindi lifted a one-out home run, her second of the season, to left to give Alabama State a 7-4 lead.
Aguilar and Hindi finished the game each with a pair of hits, as Aguilar scored a pair of runs and Hindi knocked in a pair. Seven other Lady Hornets picked up one hit each in the first win of the season for the defending SWAC champions.
Vanessa Bradford (1-2) picked up her first collegiate victory, working four innings and allowing just three runs (one earned) off of six hits and striking out one. Castro picked up her first save of the season, working three innings and allowed just two runs (one earned) off of one hit and recording three strikeouts.
In the nightcap, South Alabama (5-0) blew open a close game in the fourth inning with six runs and went to defeat the Lady Hornets 8-0 in the final game of the classic. Alabama State was held to just two hits in five innings by South Alabama, with Byrne and Core each picking up a hit each.
Justine Jean (0-1) suffered the loss, working four-plus innings and allowing eight runs to score off of 10 hits.
After hitting .500 for the weekend (6-for-12) with three extra base hits, including a pair of home runs,
Perry Hindi was named to the Sand Dollar Classic All-Tournament Team.
The Lady Hornets return home this weekend to host the Alabama State Black and Gold Tournament at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex. The tournament will feature Akron, Fort Wayne and UT-Martin; with Alabama State opening play on Friday against UT-Martin with first pitch scheduled for 2:30 pm.
For more information on Alabama State University athletics, follow us on Twitter @BamaStateSports and like us on Facebook. For more information on Alabama State softball, follow us on Twitter @BamaStateSB.
