MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Charlene Castro drove in four runs, including a two-run home run to pace Alabama State to a 9-4 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the opening round of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Softball Tournament Wednesday afternoon.
Alabama State (21-29) jumped to a 9-0 lead through the first six innings before UAPB was able to put four on the board in the bottom half of the sixth. Alabama State wasted no time getting its offense going as
Hatty Shope doubled and
Casey Durham drew a walk. Castro put the Lady Hornets on the board with a RBI single that plated Shope. In the second, Alabama State threatened to push its advantage as
Aimee Felices reached second after an airmailed throw to first.
Felices moved to third on a passed ball, but
Kaylee Davis flied out, stranding the runner. The Lady Lions set about putting together a chance when Shanice Akins led off the bottom of the second with a single. After a wild pitch from Alabama State pitcher
Justine Jean allowed Akins to second and a walk by Dominique Humphrey, the Lady Hornets escaped the inning unscathed as Toni Martinez grounded out to second.
The Lady Hornets exploded in the third inning, as Durham belted a triple to right field, scoring Shope to make it 2-0. After an error at third allowed
Kristin Gunter to reach first, giving Alabama State runners on the corners,
Makala Burt delivered a RBI sacrifice fly to deep center to bring home Durham.
After receiving new life on a dropped foul ball,
Amira James smacked a single to left center to score Gunter. James then pilfered second, and Felices brought her home with a RBI single, reaching second on the throw to home and chasing UAPB starter Angelique Ramos. Castro later blasted a two-run shot in the top of the fourth to extend the Lady Hornets' lead, and delivered a RBI groundout in the sixth for insurance. Burt followed by dropping a RBI single into shallow left.
UAPB (16-27) got on the board in the bottom of the sixth, as Alexandria Taylor drew a walk off of reliever
Vanessa Bradford and moved to second on a wild pitch. Akins singled and an errant throw allowed Taylor to score and Akins over to second. After Bradford struck Monique Nikolao with a pitch, the Lady Lions added another run as Felices mishandled a grounder from Humphrey, which led to Akins scoring as well as the return of Jean to the circle. The Lady Lions continued to rally, with Kameron Graham knocking a RBI triple to deep right before the end of the inning. Jean would settle down, clamping down on the UAPB offense from that point forward.
Castro was 2-for-4, while Durham went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in and Shope scored three runs. Jean picked up the win with 6.2 innings of shutout ball, allowing five hits.
Alabama State will face the winner of Alcorn State-Southern Thursday night at 6 pm, and the game will be carried on the Hornet Sports Network.
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