MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State will open play at the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Softball Championship Tournament Wednesday afternoon against West Division second-seed UAPB at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex.
First pitch for the contest is 12 noon Wednesday afternoon. Admission to the Barbara Williams Softball Complex for each game of the tournament is $5 at the gate.
Alabama State (20-29, 10-8 SWAC) enters the contest as the third seed from the East Division behind Alcorn State and Alabama A&M, and will play the second game of the opening round. The Lady Hornets and UAPB did not play this season, however, swept the season series from UAPB last season – including winning a 10-1 contest in the conference tournament.
Kristin Gunter leads the Lady Hornets into the tournament after being First Team All-Conference earlier this week. The junior finished the regular season as the third-leading hitter on the team, hitting .297 on the season with 38 total hits – including 13 extra base hits. She collected a team-high 10 doubles, while also recording a triple and a pair of home runs with 20 runs batted in. She also scored 24 runs and finished the regular season with a .438 slugging percentage. Meanwhile, junior
Charlene Castro was named First Team as the designated player, hitting .295 on the season with 33 hits – including 12 extra base hits. She has collected nine doubles and is tied for the team-lead with three home runs and a team-high 32 runs batted in. Castro has scored 12 runs and is slugging .455 on the season.
Kaylee Davis leads the team in hitting this season at .350 with 43 hits and 14 stolen bases, while
Casey Durham is hitting .308 with a team-high 24 stolen bases (in 25 attempts).
Amira James – a Second Team All-Conference selection – is tied atop the team in home runs with
Hailey Walker, Castro,
Hatty Shope and
Taylor Rosser with three.
Justine Jean leads Alabama State on the mound after a Second Team All-Conference selection, as she leads the team in innings pitched at 133.1. She has given 142 hits in those innings, and allowed 137 runs (112) earned, while leading the team in appearances with 31. Jean finished the regular season with 23 starts and 11 complete games, while throwing a pair of shutouts. The sophomore also recorded 90 strikeouts on the year.
UAPB (16-27, 11-6 SWAC) is led by Tonnay Hawkins – a first team selection – at .363 on the season with 49 hits including a pair of triples, while Ta'Lyn Moody is hitting .345 with 49 hits and a pair of triples on the season.
The game, along with each of the Alabama State games in the tournament, will be carried on the Hornet Sports Network.
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