TROY, Ala. | Alabama State dropped a pair of games to open the 2018 season at the Troy Softball Complex, falling to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (SIUE) and Troy Friday night.
In the opener, the Lady Hornets fell to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, 14-5, in their season opener using three different pitchers.
Justine Jean (0-1) started the night for Alabama State, going four innings and allowing six runs (all earned) on five hits and struck out three batters.
Skyler Sullivan made her collegiate debut and last 1.2 innings and allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits, while
Charlene Castro came out of the bullpen to record the last out.
SIUE scored first to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning, before Alabama State tied the game at 1-all in the bottom of the second inning on a double to right center by
Amira James.
However, SIUE (2-0) scored eight runs in the next two innings combined, plating two in the top of the third and six in the fourth inning – using three hits and a pair of errors by the Lady Hornets.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Lady Hornets cut into the lead with four runs of their own.
Kristin Gunter got the inning started for Alabama State with a double, and came around to score on a
Hailey Walker single after advancing to third on a wild pitch. After
Kaitlyn Kilner was inserted for Walker, she scored on a
Casey Durham single.
The Lady Hornets added two more runs in that inning on a
Natalia Rivera triple to right to score Durham and James, but that is all the Lady Hornets could muster in the inning. SIUE scored five more runs over the next two innings for the final margin.
In game two of the doubleheader, Alabama State (0-2) fell 7-0 as they used three pitchers once again and were held to just one hit.
Vanessa Bradford (0-1) started the game and pitched 4.2 innings - throwing 88 pitches – and allowed five runs off of seven hits. Sullivan made her second appearance on the day in the seventh inning to face one batter, while Castro finished the contest for the Lady Hornets.
Troy (2-0) scored a run in the first, another in the third and finished off the scoring with five runs combined in the fifth and sixth. Castro got the lone hit of the game for the Lady Hornets against Troy, finishing the day with three hits.
Alabama State will conclude their play in the tournament against Tennessee State and SIUE; beginning at 12 noon.
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