HOUSTON, Texas – The Alabama State University softball team mounted a seventh inning rally, but it wasn't enough as they dropped the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series to Texas Southern University with a 5-2 loss at Memorial Park Saturday afternoon.
 
Alabama State (9-20, 4-2 SWAC) trailed by five entering the seventh inning when the furious rally began with a leadoff walk to Brittney Wilson. The senior then stole second base and scored when Laura Aguilar hit a ball on the infield that was mishandled by the shortstop. Aguilar then got hung up between first and second, allowing Wilson to score and reached second safely as she avoided the tag from the Lady Tigers.
 
After a groundout by Therese Byrne moved Aguilar to third, the senior scored when Valerie Centeno hit a high pop up on the infield that Texas Southern third baseman Madilynn Marek lost in the sun allowing Aguilar to score. However, on the play, Centeno attempted to stretch the play to second and was called out which was followed by a groundout to end the contest.
 
Texas Southern (12-9, 4-2 SWAC) scored a run in the first as Dominique Tello went ahead 1-0 on a wild pitch, before scoring three more in the third. The Lady Tigers got a single from Jocilynn Ellis and a walk issued to Tello, before the pair scored on a two-run double. The Lady Tigers added another run in the fifth off reliever Charlene Castro.
 
Justine Jean (2-7) suffered the loss, working three innings and allowing four runs off of three hits, while walking four. Castro came out of the bullpen, working three innings and allowing one run off of five hits.
 
Byrne, Centeno and Kendall Core all finished the day 2-for-4 for the Lady Hornets, with Centeno driving in a run in the loss.
 
Alabama State returns to action Tuesday on the road at Jacksonville State. It will be the second meeting between the two schools this season, with first pitch scheduled for 5 pm.

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