MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State advanced in the winner's bracket of the 2018 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Softball Tournament with a 7-2 victory over Southern Thursday night at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex.
With the win, the Lady Hornets moved on in the bracket to face Texas Southern with a berth in the Saturday championship game on the line.
Alabama State (22-29) scored early and often after a leadoff walk to
Kaylee Davis. The junior outfielder took advantage of a pair of wild pitches to score the first run of the game just seven pitches in to the contest for a 1-0 lead. Southern came back to a 2-1 lead in the third inning when Jazmine Dukes singled to right to score Kiara Suttles, before scoring on a wild pitch.
The Lady Hornets responded when
Jordan Amerson doubled to left, for her first of three hits, to start a rally. After
Kaitlyn Kilner came on to pinch run, she scored on
Hatty Shope single – her sixth consecutive time on base in this tournament – to tie the game at second. Alabama State reclaimed the lead when
Charlene Castro singled to score Davis, followed by a single by
Kristin Gunter for a 4-2 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Alabama State was able to chase Southern's Aubrion James, who came on in relief during the first.
Casey Durham led off with a single and later stole second base. After an
Amira James base hit, Makayla Burt then added to the Lady Hornets' advantage with a single that just got away from the infield that brought Durham home. Burt touched up home plate after a mishandled grounder from
Aimee Felices to second.
Amerson singled to score James, and a throwing error put Amerson and Felices in scoring position, but Tiara Scott was able to escape the jam for Southern and put a halt to the damage. However, Southern was unable to get much of anything done against starter Lady Hornets' starter
Justine Jean, who clamed up the Jaguars' bats through the rest of the game. Jean earned the win with a complete game effort, allowing five hits and one earned run with four strikeouts.
Jean finished the game allowing just two runs off of five hits, while striking out four.
The game Friday will be carried on the Hornet Sports Network, with first pitch set for 2 pm at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex.
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