GULFPORT, Miss. --The Alabama State Hornets took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and never trailed from there on the way to a 4-1 win against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on Thursday. The Hornets advance to play Florida A&M on Friday at 10:30 a.m.

A win over the Rattlers would put the Hornets in the SWAC championship game, with game one set for Friday at 2:30 p.m.

Freshman Kohana Pousson (6-6) started in the circle and picked up the win for Alabama State (28-28). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up one run on four hits, allowing one walk and striking out two.
In the batter's box, the Hornets were led by junior Alexia Denby, who went 1-for-3 on the day with a double and three RBI. Senior Kindal DeRamus furnished a standout performance at the dish as well, going 2-for-3.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hornets got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. DeRamus came across to score the lone run of the inning for Alabama State and get them on the board.
The Hornets then held the Wildcats scoreless before expanding their lead in the third inning. Denby's bases-clearing double was the offense in a three-run inning for Alabama State, which brought the score to 4-0 in favor of the Hornets. Bethune-Cookman put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Alabama State still held on for the 4-1 win.

GAME NOTES
» Alabama State's highest-scoring inning was the third when it pushed three runs across.
» Alabama State grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» The Hornets out-hit the Wildcats at a 6-4 clip.
» Alabama State went 2-for-4 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Alabama State pitchers faced 26 Bethune-Cookman hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out two.
» Denby led the Hornets at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a double and three RBI.
» Bethune-Cookman was led offensively by junior Essence Gibbs, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
» Junior Halyne Gonzalez led the Wildcats pitching staff, throwing seven innings of four-run ball.
 
Alabama State vs. Prairie View A&M

The Alabama State Hornets took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and never trailed from there on the way to a 3-2 victory against the Prairie View A&M Panthers on Thursday.
Junior Charity Bibbs (13-13) started in the circle and picked up the win for Alabama State (27-28). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on seven hits, allowing three walks and striking out five.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hornets got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Alabama State got an RBI single from senior Jaeda Gardner, scoring freshman Kendall Smiley from second base.

The Panthers failed to push any runs across before the Hornets built on their lead in the third inning. Sophomore Alana Scott came across to score the lone run of the inning for Alabama State, which brought the score to 2-0 in favor of the Hornets.
Alabama State kept Prairie View A&M scoreless before expanding their lead to 3-0 the following inning. The Hornets scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Smiley. Prairie View A&M put two runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Alabama State still held on for the 3-2 win.

GAME NOTES
» Bibbs struck out five Panthers hitters.
» Alabama State's highest-scoring inning was the fourth when it pushed one run across.
» Alabama State grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Alabama State pitchers faced 31 Prairie View A&M hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and 10 fly balls while striking out five.
» The Hornets drew five walks from Prairie View A&M pitching.
» Scott led the Hornets at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double.
» Prairie View A&M was led offensively by senior Biviana Figueroa, who went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
» Junior Cailin Massey led the Panthers pitching staff, throwing four scoreless innings.