MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama State University softball team split a pair of contests Sunday evening, using the arm of freshman Vanessa Bradford to win the nightcap.
 
"It was a good weekend overall," Alabama State head coach Christina Steiner-Wilcoxson. "We were able to come back from 21 innings yesterday and show up today to compete. Through all the fighting of trying to win yesterday going extra innings, you are glad to see you can finish the job and get the win."
 
Bradford (5-3) won her second consecutive contest on the mound in the nightcap, pitching a complete game in a 4-3 victory over North Carolina A&T. The freshman went seven innings, allowing just three runs (all earned) off of three hits, with one strikeout. The Aggies scored one run in the third and two runs in the fourth off of Bradford in the Alabama State victory.
 
"I am really proud of Vanessa (Bradford)," Steiner-Wilcoxson said. "Tonight was her first complete game win for her, and the defense played good behind her. You don't have to play perfect; you just have to do what you are supposed to do."
 
The Lady Hornets scored first in the nightcap when Alexia Boggess, who finished the nightcap 2-for-3 (with two runs batted in), doubled to right center that drove in Hailey Walker who reached on a throwing error. After North Carolina A&T tied the game at 1-all in the third, the Lady Hornets plated a pair of runs in the third. Kaylee Davis, who finished the night 2-for-2, singled up the middle to start the inning; followed by a sacrifice bunt by Laura Aguilar who reached on an error. The two scored on a Valerie Centeno double to left center to give Alabama State a 3-1 lead.
 
North Carolina A&T (5-14-1) tied the game in the fourth, and it stayed that way until Alabama State got to the plate in the sixth inning. Kendall Core led the inning off with a walk, and was later pinch ran for Brittney Wilson who advanced to second on a fielding error by North Carolina A&T. She advanced to third on a groundout, and later scored the winning run on a Boggess single through the right side.
 
"We got a couple of girls with some clutch hits," Steiner-Wilcoxson said. "Val (Centeno), Alexia (Boggess) and Kaylee Davis all got good at-bats. It was a complete effort tonight, with people coming in and out of the game in different situations. They came in running, on defense or hitting; and they all did their job. I am just really proud of the girls and the effort, especially after yesterday."
 
In the first game of the day, Alabama State fell to Loyola-Chicago 5-3 although they held the Ramblers to just three hits. Justine Jean (0-5) was the hard-luck loser, going 2.2 innings and allowed five runs (one earned) off of two hits. Charlene Castro came on in relief, going 4.1 innings and allowing just one hit.
 
Trailing by five for most of the contest, Alabama State scored a pair of runs in the sixth inning when Centeno and Aguilar came across the plate after a fielding error by Loyola-Chicago (14-0). The Lady Hornets had another chance in the bottom of the seventh after plating a run when Wilson crossed the plate on a fielding error by Loyola-Chicago. However, Therese Byrne – trying to advance from second – was thrown out at home for the final out of the contest.
 
Alabama State returns to action Wednesday night against second-ranked Auburn on the road, with first pitch scheduled for 6 pm. The game will air on SEC Network +, which will air of ESPN3.
 
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