OXFORD, Ala. – The Alabama State University softball team pounded out 19 hits in a pair of games, but it wasn't enough as the Lady Hornets dropped a pair of games to Missouri State and Belmont in the Leon Smith Classic held at Choccolocco Park.

In the opener, Alabama State (5-15) pounded out 10 hits in the loss with four extra base hits – including doubles by Valerie Centeno, Hailey Walker and Diauna Nelson – and had two innings of three-plus runs. However it wasn't enough as Missouri State was able to pull away down the stretch for a 13-8 victory.

The Lady Hornets struck first in the contest, getting three runs in the top of the first inning when Aguilar led off the game with a single and advanced to second when Centeno reached on a walk. Aguilar scored on a Charlene Castro single up the middle; while she and Centeno scored on a two-out double by Walker down the right field line.

After Missouri State scored a pair in the bottom of the first, Alabama State scored three more in the third when Alexia Boggess reached on a fielding error that scored Amira James gave the Lady Hornets a 4-2 lead. The lead would grow when Nelson connected for a pinch-hit double to right that scored Walker and Boggess and grew the lead to 6-2.

Missouri State would add six in the bottom of the third to take an 8-6 lead, before Alabama State came back in the top of the fourth to tie the contest at 8-all. The fourth started with an Aguilar infield single, before she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and then was caught in a run-down on a Perry Hindi fielder's choice. Hindi was easily score as Kendall Core connected for her team-leading fifth home run of the season to tie the game for the Lady Hornets.

However, Missouri State was able to plate three more runs in the bottom of the fourth and two in the sixth for the final margin. Aguilar, Castro and Walker each had a pair of hits in the loss; while Core and Walker each added a pair of runs batted in.

Vanessa Bradford (5-4) suffered the loss in the start, giving up 11 runs (only six earned) off of 11 hits in 3.1 innings. She also walked six and struck out three; while Castro came on in relief going 2.2 innings and allowing two runs off of three hits.

\In the nightcap, Belmont (17-4) jumped ahead early with an eight-run first inning and held off Alabama State down the stretch for a 12-4 victory. The Lady Hornets were able to get a pair of runs in the second to trim into the lead when Core drew a lead-off walk and scored on Castro's second home run of the season.

Alabama State would add a pair of runs in the third when Hindi singled to left, and scored two pitches later when Core hit her second home run of the day and sixth of the season – trimming the lead to 8-4, but that was as close as Alabama State could get as Belmont scored four runs over the next three innings.

Core and Castro finished the game with a pair of hits, and a pair of runs batted in for the Lady Hornets – who collected nine hits as a team.

Justine Jean (0-6) suffered the loss, going 0.2 innings in the start and allowing right runs off of four hits. She walked five in the loss; while Castro came out of the bullpen for the second time on the day and logged 3.1 innings in the circle. She allowed four runs off of five hits, while striking out one.

Alabama State returns to action tomorrow afternoon in the final day of the tournament against Valparaiso at 1 pm, followed by the final game against Southeast Missouri State (host team) at 3:30 pm.

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