JASPER, AL – The Kentucky State University softball team finished the 2019 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference crossover with a record of 3-2 after splitting Sunday's action.
KENTUCKY STATE 8, FORT VALLEY STATE 0 (5 innings)
Freshman
Katelyn Hurley (Elizabeth, IN) turned in her second straight one-hitter, shutting down Fort Valley over five innings. She struck out four batters with no walks in her outing.
While Hurley was mesmerizing in the circle, the Kentucky State offense went to work.
The Thorobreds sandwiched a pair of RBI doubles with a steal of home to take the 3-0 lead in the first innings. They added two unearned runs in the third inning before completing the run rule with three runs in the fifth.
The top of the lineup – senior
Natalia Bocanegra (Covina, CA), senior
Jackie Zubiate (Riverside, CA), and senior
Jittaun Thompson (Pomona, CA) – combined to hit 9-of-12 with four RBI and three runs scored in the victory. In addition to the lineup opening trio, freshman
Olivia Steward (Salem, IN) and junior
Sasha Allen (West Covina, CA) each had a pair of hits for Kentucky State.
CLARK ATLANTA 3, KENTUCKY STATE 1
A potential seventh-inning rally was stunted with a runners leaving early call, erasing a one-out RBI double, and leaving Kentucky State with no on and two outs. Instead of having the tying run on second and the momentum brewing, the Thorobreds were left with trying to kick start a rally with two outs.
Unfortunately, a line drive to the fence was hauled in for the final out.
Sophomore
Moana Pinner (Hilo, HI) brought home the Thorobreds' only run with a two-out RBI single in the third inning.
Clark Atlanta rebounded with three runs in the third, two of which were unearned.
Senior
Paola Flores, 3-7, (San Lorenzo, PR) took the loss, allowing one earned run on four hits in six innings of work.
For her efforts this weekend, Bocanegra earned a spot on the SIAC Crossover All-Tournament team. The senior outfielder led the event with a .688 batting average.
Kentucky State (8-12 overall, 3-2 SIAC) steps away from SIAC action for a non-conference doubleheader at Asbury 5 p.m. Wednesday.