MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The defending Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) champion Alabama State University softball team was the prohibitive favorite to win the East Division and vie for the title again this season; however, with just nine conference games remaining on the schedule they find themselves one game behind the division leader – Alcorn State – their opponent for this weekend's series.
 
Alabama State (11-23, 6-3 SWAC) enters the weekend having split their last four games against Alabama A&M and Charleston Southern. The Lady Hornets have won two of their three conference series in 2017, claiming series wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Alabama A&M.
 
Meanwhile, Alcorn State (10-23, 7-2 SWAC) enters the series having won three of their last four games, including a sweep over Jackson State last weekend. The Lady Braves have won two of their conference series, claiming wins over Jackson State and Grambling State.
 
The two teams have played three common opponents this season – Southeast Missouri State, Southern Miss and Arkansas-Pine Bluff – with Alabama State picking up two more wins than Alcorn State, as the Lady Hornets swept Arkansas-Pine Bluff earlier this year.
 
Redshirt sophomore Kaylee Davis continues to lead Alabama State in hitting, as she is in the top 10 in the conference, hitting .373 through 29 games in the outfield. She has scored 13 runs and knocked in four more, while hitting .455 in conference play in both the leadoff and second spots. Senior Valerie Centeno has raised her average considerably during conference play, as she is hitting .359 through 31 contests, including nine extra base hits. The senior has four triples and is among the nation's best in that category, and triples per game.
 
Perry Hindi is at .355 with four home runs and 17 runs batted in, while Diauna Nelson – who has been inserted into the starting lineup at first base – is hitting .333 after hitting her first home run of the season on Tuesday. Kendall Core is at .327 with eight home runs – two off the school record for career home runs (29) – and 29 runs batted it, while Alexia Boggess is hitting .317 with extra base hits and 15 runs scored.
 
They will face an Alcorn State pitching staff with a team earned run average of 5.49, and is led by Robin Harrison (4-5) with a 3.89 earned run average. The Lady Braves will also send Madi Creed (3-6, 4.98 ERA), Jazmin Castillo (2-5, 6.49 ERA) and Ambria Dorsey (1-7, 7.96 ERA) to the circle this weekend.
 
The Lady Braves are hitting .289 as a team this season, with four players hitting over .300 this season, including Taylor Hughes at .423 with 12 extra base hits and 29 runs batted it; while Jessica Crum is at .419 with seven home runs and 39 runs batted in.
 
They will face an Alabama State pitching staff led by Vanessa Bradford (7-7) with a 4.78 earned run average, while Justine Jean (3-10) has won two of her last three conference starts and has a 5.58 earned run average this season. Meanwhile, Charlene Castro is among the league and national leaders in saves with a pair this season.

The series starts with a doubleheader on Saturday with first pitch scheduled at 1 pm, and in between the two games on Saturday, the program will honor their senior class playing their final weekend home series at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex.
 
The series concludes with a single game on Sunday at 1 pm.
 
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