MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alcorn State University scored seven of their runs on three home runs against Alabama State University, en route to a 12-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) victory Sunday afternoon at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex.
The Lady Braves jumped on top of Alabama State (11-26, 6-6 SWAC) in the first inning with three runs off starter
Vanessa Bradford (7-9). The top three hitters in the lineup either reached by walk or hit by pitch, scoring on an RBI groundout by Jessica Crum and a two-run single by Vanessa Sanders.
Alabama State was able to answer in the bottom half of the frame off Alcorn State starter Ambria Dorsey (2-7) when
Laura Aguilar led off with an infield single and advanced to second on a groundout. She later came around to score on a sacrifice fly by
Kendall Core – the first of two on the day.
Alcorn State (13-23, 10-2 SWAC) scored two more in the third on a two-run home run by Victoria Tyler that pushed the lead to 5-1. The Lady Braves came back with six in the top of the fourth after Crum hit a sacrifice fly to score Taylor Hughes, and Sanders singled up the middle to drive home Hughes for a 7-1. The game was put out of reach when Bre Glenn hit a grand slam to push the lead to 11-1.
The Lady Hornets added a run in the fourth on a
Therese Byrne double down the line to score
Kimberlee Owens all the way from first, and again in the seventh on a Core sacrifice fly.
Bradford suffered the loss, logging 1.2 innings and allowing three runs (all earned) off of just one hit; while walking five. She gave way to
Charlene Castro who lasted 2.0 innings and allowed eight runs (all earned) off of five hits, while walking three.
Aimee Felices made her first appearance of the season on the mound for the Lady Hornets in relief of Castro, logging 1.1 innings and allowing just one hit and one run – a Crum solo home run – while walking one.
Aguilar led the Lady Hornets at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance with a run scored, while
Valerie Centeno also went 2-for-3. Core drove in two of the three runs for the Lady Hornets on the day, giving her 136 for her career and leaving her just one behind Telma O'Neal for third on the all-time list.
Alabama State returns to action with a doubleheader on the road against Middle Tennessee State University on Wednesday, with first pitch scheduled for 4 pm.
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