MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama State University fell short in the opening game of their Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series against Alcorn State University, before falling in the second game of the doubleheader to the Lady Braves.
 
The Lady Hornets fell short in the opener 4-3, before Alcorn State was able to pull away in the second game to win 9-0 in five innings.
 
Alabama State (11-25, 6-5 SWAC) and Alcorn State (12-23, 9-2 SWAC) battled for much of the first game after the score was tied in the second inning. The Lady Hornets struck first in the opener, scoring a run in the first inning on a single by Kendall Core that advanced Laura Aguilar home after a stolen base for the 1-0 lead.
 
Alcorn State took advantage of three walks and a hit batter by Alabama State starter Justine Jean in the top of the second inning, as well as an infield error, to take a 2-1 lead. The Lady Hornets would tie the game in the bottom of the second inning when Amira James and Therese Byrne combined for a double steal, allowing James to score from third.
 
The game remained tied until the seventh when Alcorn State used an error and a misplayed ball in the sun to score a pair of runs to take a 4-2 lead at the time. The Lady Hornets would battle back in the bottom of the seventh inning when Kaylee Davis walked and Valerie Centeno reached on an infield single to start the inning. After a pair of outs, Charlene Castro put a ball through the left side of the infield that allowed Davis to score from second to trim the lead to 4-3; however, Centeno was tagged out behind the play to end the contest.
 
Jean lasted just 1.2 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and three walks, before giving way to Vanessa Bradford (7-8) who finished the game going 5.1 innings and allowing two runs (no earned) off of five hits with four strikeouts.
 
The Lady Hornets finished the opener with nine hits, led by Core who finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a run batted in; while Castro and Byrne each finished 2-for-3 .
 
In the second game, Alcorn State jumped out front early, scoring six runs in the first two innings of play highlighted by a two-run home run by Jessica Crum. The Lady Braves would add three more in the fourth for the final nine-run margin.
 
Jean (3-11) suffered the loss in her second start on the day, going 1.1 innings and allowing five runs (four earned) off of one hit, while walking three. Bradford came in for 2.1 innings of relief and allowed four runs (three earned) off of seven hits, while Castro pitched a hitless 1.1 innings in relief for the Lady Hornets.
 
Brittney Wilson was able to break up the no-hit bid of Alcorn State starter Madi Creed (4-6) in the third, followed by an infield hit by Aguilar in the same inning. The Lady Hornets finished with four hits – Centeno and Core – off of Creed in the loss.
 
The series concludes with a single game on Sunday at 1 pm.
 
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