AUBURN, Ala. | Alabama State split day one of the Plainsman Invitational, beating UNCW, 7-6, before falling to host Auburn, 9-1, in the night cap at Jane B. Moore Field.
 
Game One – Alabama State 7, UNCW 6
The Lady Hornets started the weekend strong, clawing back late to claim a one-run victory over UNCW in the opening game of the tournament.
 
Things looked bleak for Alabama State when the Seahawks added some insurance in the top of the sixth inning to go up 6-4, but it never gave up the fight. The Hornets responded by loading the bases with two outs and Alexis Sydnor did the rest – driving home two on a RBI single to center field.
 
The go-ahead run crossed the plate in the following at-bat when Kaley Anthony ripped one right at the shortstop, who booted the grounder and allowed what proved to be the game-winning run to score.
 
Anthony got things going for the Hornets in the first inning, lacing a double down the left field line to score Sydnor and Kindall DeRamus – the first two of four runs in the frame. Schylur Edwards knocked in a run a couple batters later on an RBI single, then Aishja Wilcher brought home the fourth run of the inning on a ground out.
 
ASU was held scoreless until the three-run sixth, but Justine Jean and Alexa Veamoi (2-0) helped keep it close with 10 combined strikeouts. Veamoi earned the victory after allowing just one run on three hits and fanning five batters in 3.0 innings in the circle.
 
Reigning SWAC Pitcher of the Week Skyler Sullivan picked up her second save of the early season, pitching around a walk in the seventh inning with a couple of fly outs and a ground out. UNCW's Rylee Pate (1-2) suffered the loss, allowing seven runs – four earned – on nine hits in a complete game.
 
Game Two – Alabama State 1, Auburn 8
Auburn scored two in the first and two more in the second and held on for the remainder of the game to down Alabama State in the night cap.
 
The Tigers started the scoring with a successful double steal, then added another on an RBI triple two batters later. Auburn added a couple more runs in the bottom of the second – one unearned – to push the advantage to four.
 
Alabama State cut into the deficit in the top of the fourth, when Morgan Gaither ripped a double into the left field gap to score Edwards all the way from first. The threat ended, however, when a fielder's choice cut down a potential Hornet run at the plate.
 
Auburn took no time to respond to the ASU run, plating four runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend the lead to 8-1. Vanessa Bradford (0-3) was saddled with the loss after allowing two runs on two hits in an inning of work.

Up Next
The Lady Hornets will return for day two of the Plainsman Invitational with a doubleheader against UNCW and Auburn at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., respectively.
 
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