MONTGOMERY, Ala. – With just five regular season games remaining, the Alabama State University softball team will host seventh-ranked Auburn University at Lagoon Park Wednesday night in their final regular season game in Montgomery.
 
Alabama State (14-28, 8-7 SWAC) and Auburn (39-8, 12-6 SEC) have met one time this season, with the Tigers coming out with the win at Jane B. Moore Field in early March. The game Wednesday will mark the third game against an opponent from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) for Alabama State this season, having faced Mississippi State University back on March 2.
 
The Lady Hornets enter the contest having won three of their last four contests, including winning two of three over the weekend from Jackson State University to earn a spot in the upcoming Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship Tournament to be hosted at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex. In the games over the weekend, the Lady Hornets pounded out 38 hits in the three games to go along with 32 runs. The Lady Hornets also hit three home runs and collected 11 extra-base hits.
 
On the season, Valerie Centeno leads Alabama State at the plate hitting .381 (including .449 in conference play). Since March 24, the senior has raised her average 81 points and for the season has scored 17 runs and collected 45 hits. She also has 12 extra base hits and 21 runs batted in for the Lady Hornets. Fellow senior, Perry Hindi is hitting .342 with 11 extra base hits and 17 runs batted; while sophomore Kaylee Davis is hitting .333 for the season.
 
Senior Kendall Core belted her ninth home run of the season for the Lady Hornets over the weekend, giving her 30 for her career and leaving her just one shy of tying the school record. The senior leads the team in home runs and RBI (38), and is hitting .323 for the season. Fellow senior Laura Aguilar is at .311 for the Lady Hornets with 31 runs scored and 10 stolen bases on the season; while sophomore Charlene Castro is at .310 after collecting four hits (including a double and home run) against Jackson State.
 
The Lady Hornets will face an Auburn pitching staff that has allowed just 95 runs on the season and has a team earned run average of 1.72. Kaylee Carlson leads the Tigers' pitching staff with a record of 22-3 and a 1.27 earned average, while striking out 95 and allowing just 38 runs on the season. Meanwhile, the Tigers are led at the plate by Victoria Draper (.369) and Carlee Wallace (.353), while Kasey Cooper is hitting .292 on the season with seven home runs. Kendall Veach leads Auburn with 11 home runs on the season.
 
They will face an Alabama State pitching staff led by Vanessa Bradford (9-10) with a 4.55 earned run average. As a staff, the Lady Hornets have a 5.65 earned run average with 14 complete games and 112 strikeouts.
 
First pitch is scheduled for 6 pm, and tickets are available online at funinmontgomery.com.
 
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