MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama State University softball team got back on the winning track, and did it in style as they run-ruled Alabama A&M University 10-0 in five innings at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex Friday evening.
 
Alabama State (10-21, 5-2 SWAC) jumped on the board early with three runs in the second inning when Perry Hindi singled to center, and later scored on a Charlene Castro double to put the Lady Hornets up 1-0. Castro would then be able to jog around the bases as Alexia Boggess connected for her second home run of the season, hitting the ball out to left for a 3-0 Alabama State lead.
 
The lead extended to four in the third when Hindi singled to center scoring Kaylee Davis from third for the 4-0 lead, before the senior was thrown out at second attempting to stretch the play to a double.
 
The Lady Hornets scored another two runs in the fourth after Therese Byrne singled to right before stealing second. The senior advanced to third on a fly to right by Laura Aguilar, before scoring on a Davis single to center. The Lady Hornets continued to hit in the fourth following the single, when Kendall Core singled to center to plate Davis for the 6-0 lead.
 
Alabama State put the game away in the fifth inning when Amy Felices reached on a fielding error, advanced to second on a bunt single by Boggess before Byrne singled to center. The hit by Byrne scored Felices, with Boggess and Byrne advancing to second and third. Senior Diauna Nelson pinch hit in the bottom of the fifth inning and was intentionally walked, before Aguilar reached on a fielder's choice.
 
Natalia Rivera stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter and promptly hit the full count pitch to left over a drawn-in infield to clear the bases and end the game.
 
Justine Jean (3-8) finished with a complete game victory, allowing just two hits and only allowed one other runner to reach via walk. The freshman has won three of her last four conference starts, and finished with her seventh complete game of the season.
 
Byrne finished the night 3-for-3 for the Lady Hornets, scoring a pair of runs and driving in another; while Boggess and Valerie Centeno each went 2-for-3 in the victory – with Boggess driving in a pair of runs.

The series concludes Saturday with a doubleheader at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex, with first pitch scheduled for 1 pm.
 
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