Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ACWORTH, GA – The Kentucky State University softball team split a pair of games in the first day of the HBCU Division II Tournament.

GAME ONE: Winston-Salem State 6, Kentucky State 1
Winston-Salem State took the lead with five runs over the first two innings, including a four-run first. The Rams added a single run in the sixth inning.

Freshman Olivia Steward (Salem, IN) connected on her first career long ball with a solo shot with one out in the seventh inning to account for the lone KSU run.

Three other players – senior Natalia Bocanegra (Covina, CA), senior Jittaun Thompson (Pomona, CA) and freshman Olivia Saylor (Lancaster, KY) –had a hit for the Thorobreds.

Senior pitcher Paola Flores, 1-1, (San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico) took the loss, allowing six earned runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts and three walks.

GAME TWO: Kentucky State 4, Virginia Union 2
Senior Jackie Zubiate (Riverside, CA) stroked a homerun to lead off the seventh inning, breaking a 2-2 tie and helped Kentucky State University to the 4-2 victory. Saylor brought home an insurance run on a ground out, scoring Thompson – who doubled following the Zubiate bomb – from third.

The Thorobreds took the lead in the top of the second inning on a squeeze bunt by sophomore Kailen Olison (Moreno Valley, CA), scoring Saylor.

Virginia Union took the lead with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the second inning.

Steward had her first career three-hit game, going 3-for-4 with a double. Saylor was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.

Bocanegra was 2-for-4 with a run scored, while sophomore Moana Pinner (Hilo, HI) was 2-for-3.

Freshman Katelyn Hurley (Elizabeth, IN) won her first career start, yielding two unearned runs on three hits with two strikeouts in seven innings of action.

Kentucky State (2-2) plays Bowie State 8 a.m. Sunday, and then concludes play Claflin 10:30 Sunday.