MONTGOMERY, Ala. --The Alabama State earned a 5-2 win over Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons to give Head Coach Todd Bradley his 500th win on Saturday.

Junior Ashley Pye (1-0) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Alabama State (1-2). The right-hander went three shutout innings while giving up three hits, allowing three walks and striking out three.

Gardner's three-hit day led the Hornets offensively. Senior Kindal DeRamus furnished a standout day at the plate as well, going 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI. Junior Leah Richardson also contributed for Alabama State, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a double and two RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Hornets were trailing 1-0 in the third inning when they first put runs on the board. Alabama State put up two runs in the frame, highlighted by an RBI triple off the bat of DeRamus.

The Mastodons then tied the ballgame at two before the Hornets came back to reclaim their advantage in the fifth inning. Alabama State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of DeRamus, which brought the Hornets lead to 3-2.

Alabama State held Purdue Fort Wayne scoreless before building their lead to 5-2 the following inning. The Hornets pushed two runs across on a two-run double off the bat of Richardson that scored sophomore JaNiyah Boykin and freshman Alora Bevily. The score remained 5-2 for the rest of the game, as Alabama State held on for the win.

GAME NOTES

» Gardner compiled three base hits in the game for Alabama State.
» Alabama State's highest scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed two runs across.
» Alabama State went 3-for-9 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» Alabama State pitchers faced 35 Purdue Fort Wayne hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out three.
» DeRamus led the Hornets at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI.
» Purdue Fort Wayne was led offensively by senior Brayden Lickey, who went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
» Sophomore Alanah Jones led the Mastodons pitching staff, throwing six innings of five-run ball.

UP NEXT: Alabama State returns to the diamond in the HBCU Collegiate Invitational on Feb. 16-18 in Atlanta, Ga. The Lady Hornets play South Carolina State at 6 p.m. and North Carolina A&T at 8 p.m. on Friday.