MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Over the last two years, Alabama State University and Alabama A&M University have battled to a draw in their regular season series; while the Lady Hornets have won their only postseason meeting between the two.
The two will meet again beginning Friday night in a three game series at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex in a key Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series, with first pitch scheduled for 5 pm.
Alabama State (9-21, 4-2 SWAC) enters the contest following a conference series loss to Texas Southern, and look to get back on the winning track after dropping back-to-back games. The Lady Hornets are currently tied with Alcorn State – next weekend's opponent – atop the East Division, just one game up on Mississippi Valley State in the standings.
Meanwhile, Alabama A&M (9-20, 2-3 SWAC) enters the contest in fourth in the East Division after dropping a game at Southern and losing a conference series to Texas Southern; while dropping six of their last eight contests.
The Lady Hornets took the regular season series from Alabama A&M in 2015, winning two-of-three before winning their only postseason meeting in the SWAC Tournament. Last season, the Bulldogs returned the favor in Huntsville by defeating Alabama State and handing the Lady Hornets two of their three conference losses.
Entering the weekend,
Kaylee Davis leads Alabama State in hitting at .375 with 18 hits and nine runs scored; while hitting .462 in conference play with six hits and six runs scored. Meanwhile,
Perry Hindi is hitting .346 on the season with eight extra-base hits (including four home runs) and 13 runs batted in.
Kendall Core enters the weekend at .329 with a team-leading eight home runs and 26 runs batted in – all while hitting .474 in conference play.
Valerie Centeno is the only other player above .300 for the Lady Hornets this season, hitting .316 with four triples; while
Alexia Boggess is at .288 and
Laura Aguilar .281.
Alabama State is currently 11th nationally in triples per game (0.37) and 94th in stolen bases (1.23), while Centeno is 13th in triples and 17th in triples per game (0.15) in the nation. Meanwhile, Core is 38th in home runs and 57th in home runs per game (0.27) in the national statistics released this week.
In the circle,
Vanessa Bradford (6-7) leads Alabama State with a 4.85 earned run average (2.44 in conference play) in 82.1 innings pitched, recording 43 strikeouts.
Justine Jean (2-8), winner of two of her last three conference starts, has logged a 5.33 earned run average (3.50 in conference play) in 69.2 innings with six complete games and a shutout. Meanwhile,
Charlene Castro has recorded a 7.31 earned run average (1.50 in conference play) and is 36th in the country in saves with two.
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