ACWORTH, Ga. | Alabama State pounded out five home runs on the first day of the HBCU Classic hosted by Alabama A&M at Patriot Park, sweeping through the first three games of the weekend.
 
Alabama State (8-16) started off the day with an 8-3 victory over Savannah State, before running away from Maryland-Eastern Shore 13-4. The Lady Hornets ended the day with an 11-1 run-rule victory over South Carolina State.
 
In the opener, the Lady Hornets got started early with a three-run home run from Hailey Walker and second-inning two-run single by Charlene Castro to take a 5-0 lead. After Savannah State  scored three runs in the second inning, Walker hit her second home run of the day in the third to increase the Alabama State lead to 6-3, before Alabama State added three more in the sixth for the final margin.
 
Kristin Gunter scored the Lady Hornets first run in the win over UMES on a Castro single, before Taylor Rosser connected on her first home run of the season for a 2-0 lead. UMES scored four times in the third inning before Alabama State erupted for 11 runs over the next two innings to run away with the game.
 
Rosser connected on two more home runs, while Gunter and Castro each had RBI singles during the stretch. Amira James drove home a run with a sacrifice fly, while Walker scored on the throw.
 
In the day's finale, Alabama State jumped ahead early by scoring eight runs in the first two innings of the contest to take an 8-0 lead. James had a three-run double early in the contests, while Gunter and Castro each added RBI doubles in the win.
 
Skyler Sullivan saw action on the mound on the opening day of the Classic and went three innings and allowed three runs off of five hits. Justine Jean saw time on the mound and went eight innings on the day, allowing five runs off of six hits with five strikeouts; while Castro pitched five innings on the day and allowed just one run off of three this with six strikeouts.
 
Alabama State returns to action Sunday against North Carolina Central at 4:00 pm (est), followed by a game against South Carolina State.
 
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