MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama State University softball team pounded out 11 hits en route to a 10-4 victory over Fort Wayne to close out the Black and Gold Tournament at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex Sunday afternoon.
 
"I was really proud of our effort today," Alabama State head coach Chris Steiner-Wilcoxson said. "We did a good job of putting some runs up on the board, and getting some good hits. It was a good weekend, and always good to close it out with a win. We still have some work to do, but all-in-all it was a good team effort from all 20 girls."
 
Alabama State (2-6) jumped ahead in the first when Perry Hindi scored on a single by Kendall Core to right that was mishandled by Fort Wayne, before the Mastadons rallied for three runs of their own in the second. The Lady Hornets jumped on top with a three-run second inning of their own, using three hits – highlighted by an RBI triple by Valerie Centeno – to jump ahead for good at 4-3.
 
The Lady Hornets added another run in the third, before scoring five in the fourth as they batted around. Alabama State started the inning with one-out back-to-back triples from Centeno and Hindi to push the score to 6-3, followed by an RBI single by Core for a 7-3 lead. The lead continued to grow when Therese Bryne picked up a bases loaded walk bringing in a run, followed by back-to-back bases load free passes to push the score to 10-3.
 
Centeno finished the day 2-for-4 with a pair of triples for the Lady Hornets, who return to action Wednesday night at home against Troy University with first pitch scheduled for 5 pm.
 
Hindi finished 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored, while Core and Hailey Walker each finished 2-for-4 on the day. Alexia Boggess picked up a pair of hits for the Lady Hornets, scoring a pair of runs.
 
Vanessa Bradford (2-3) picked up the win, working 5.2 innings, allowing four runs (only one earned) off of seven hits and struck out a pair. Charlene Castro came on in a bases loaded situation in the sixth, working four outs and allowing just two hits for the Lady Hornets.
 
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