ALABAMA STATE EARNS SPLIT ON DAY TWO OF SWAC ROUND-UP
CONROE, TX – The morning gave the ASU softball team a boost in the conference standings and its’ first three-game winning streak of the season.
The afternoon game left the Lady Hornets wanting to accomplish more in their next turn at SWAC competition.
Alabama State (9-22 overall, 3-1 SWAC) completed play in the SWAC Round-Up with a sound 5-2 victory against Southern and followed that up with a 5-2 loss in the late game to Texas Southern on account of one bad inning.
In the circle, Maddie Phelps (5-10) found her spots and induced 10 ground ball outs on her way to a complete game against the Lady Jaguars (4-9 overall, 1-2 SWAC).
The junior scattered seven hits and allowed just two runs and walked none on 98 pitches. Phelps struck out four.
With the score tied at two, the Lady Hornets scored three decisive runs in the fourth.
A critical at bat by Jenna Mae Thorne made the difference. Thorne battled to a 3-2 count before singling up the middle to score Laura Aguilar for the winning run.
“I was really confident all week,” said Thorne, who batted 6-for-11 during the SWAC Round-Up. “It was an outside pitch that I usually have trouble with, but I just reacted instead of thinking about it. I knew I had to step up. Taking more pitches has made me more successful.”
Junior Alexis Johnson next stepped to the plate and connected for a two-run home run, her conference-leading sixth home run of the season, to pad the lead and give ASU a 5-2 lead for the balance of the scoring.
Valerie Centeno, Thorne, Kendall Core, Aleesa Yanez and Perry Hindi had two hits apiece for ASU.
In game two, Texas Southern used a four-run third inning and held on for a 5-2 win against ASU.
Thorne batted 2-for-3 with a run scored. Johnson doubled in Aguilar and Thorne for the Lady Hornets’ two runs.
Lady Tigers’ starting pitcher Samantha Jimenez kept ASU in check with a complete game while allowing just four hits and walked none.
Texas Southern improved to 7-11 overall and 2-1 in the conference.
Alabama State kept it close behind freshman Chelsea King, who pitched four innings and allowed just one run on two hits in relief.
Next, ASU will play at Florida A&M in Tallahassee on Thursday at 3 p.m.
#GOHORNETS#
