VICKSBURG, Miss. – The Kentucky State University softball team opened up the 2020 campaign with a pair of losses to Division I Alcorn State Thursday.

GAME ONE: ALCORN STATE 14, KENTUCKY STATE 1
Junior Rosemary Rodriguez (El Mirage, Ariz.) drove home the lone Kentucky State run with a two-out single in the fifth inning, scoring freshman Tanisha Valdez (Maui, Hawaii). The freshman drew a two-out walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch before scoring on Rodriguez' single.

Senior Sasha Allen (West Covina, Calif.) had the Thorobreds' other hit, a one-out single in the first inning.

Freshman Kendall Collier, 0-1 (Nashville, Tenn.) allowed 14 runs, seven earned, on 12 hits with two strikeouts over four innings of work.

GAME TWO: ALCORN STATE 14, KENTUCKY STATE 4
Rodriguez recorded two of the team's five hits, while junior Kailen Olison (Moreno Valley, Calif) and Allen each had RBI in the nightcap loss.

Kentucky State scored a pair of runs in the top of the first inning as Rodriguez walked, stole second and scored on a wild pitch and Olison scored on an error. An RBI single by Olison brought home a run in the fourth inning and a sacrifice fly by Allen capped the scoring.

Rodriguez was 2-for-2 with a double and a run scored, while Olison, Collier and junior Sidney Campbell (Ashland, Ky.) all had hits.

Freshman Alexis Menifee, 0-1 (Lexington, Ky.) allowed 13 runs, nine earned, on eight hits in three innings.

Kentucky State (0-2) returns to action 1 p.m. Friday to face Jackson State and 6 p.m. Friday for a meeting with Southern University.