Before the Alabama State softball team turns its attention to preserving a Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division lead, the Hornets had one last non-conference battle with a Power 5 school.
And they came away victorious, defeating host Georgia Tech of the Atlantic Coast Conference 6-4 Wednesday night, improving to 24-18 on the season.
The Hornets led wire-to-wire, starting off with a two-run homer by senior catcher Alex Preston in the top of the first inning. In the following inning, freshman infielder Alana Scott drove home senior outfielder Kindall DeRamus (scoring her second run of the game) on a single. Then Scott herself touched home plate on a Yellow Jacket throwing error. DeRamus also drove in a run in the top of the fifth to push ASU to a 6-1 advantage. DeRamus was the lone Hornet with multiple hits.
Senior Bailey Greenlee pitched five innings for Bama State to improve her record to 13-8 on the season. Georgia Tech (24-21, 6-12 ACC) chased Greenlee with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, but sophomore reliever Olivia Brown — pitching in her home state of Georgia — closed the door, allowing just one run in the final two innings to secure the big win.
Alabama State is 12-6 in SWAC East play, holding a 1 ½ game lead over second-place Florida A&M. The Hornets return to conference play Friday afternoon with a weekend series visit from intra-state rival Alabama A&M.
