Lady Hornets draw UA-Pine Bluff in SWAC softball tourney
IRONDALE, Ala. (bamastatesports.com) – Unfinished business has been the Alabama State softball team’s rallying cry since last season’s SWAC Tournament when the Lady Hornets won four tournament games—including three straight elimination games—before losing in the SWAC title series against Texas Southern.
The slate has been wiped cleaned once again as the 2016 SWAC Tournament gets underway for Alabama State (24-25 overall, 15-3 SWAC) on Wednesday with a first day match up with Arkansas-Pine Bluff (15-34 overall, 6-12 SWAC) that begins at 5:30 p.m. on field two at the Shea Brothers Softball Complex in Irondale, AL.
It marks the first time that the tournament will be held at the venue since 2012.
And, the unfinished business moniker will be fresh in the minds of the Lady Hornets.
“I was really impressed with practice today,” said second-year ASU head coach Chris Steiner-Wilcoxson.
“I felt like the girls were focused. They were intense, ready to be here and just excited about being in the conference tournament. They had an all-business like attitude today. We got in and got out and are ready for tomorrow. They practiced with a purpose. This is do—or die—and this is what you play your season for at the end of the year.”
However, ASU will be in a different position this time around—having claiming the East Division’s top seed.
Alabama State entered last season’s tournament as the No. 2 seed.
The Lady Hornets will also be coming off a longer than usual layoff of 10 days since they last played a game.
“To one extent, you want to keep your momentum going,” said Steiner-Wilcoxson. “But, on the other end, you need that rest to recover and need your head on straight. The break was good because we were able to get in some extra practice and the girls had a chance to work on their final assignments and grades.”
ASU and UAPB did not face each other this season.
In the team’s last meeting, ASU defeated the Golden Lions 5-0 on March 23, 2015 at the SWAC Round Up in Conroe, TX.
Valerie Centeno, Jenna Mae Thorne, Aleesa Yanez and Perry Hindi all had two hits in that game while Melissa Christmann tossed a five-hit shutout to earn the victory.
Alabama State has won three of the previous four meetings with Pine Bluff dating back to 2013.
Christmann, Yanez and Rachel Mills are the only active members of the team who still played for ASU during that season.
“We have to worry about us and not look into the other dugout,” said Steiner-Wilcoxson. “It matters how we play. If we stay positive and focused, we’ll be fine. We know that whoever we play is going to be gunning for us and is going to bring it so we have to stay focused.”
The winner of ASU/UAPB would play the winner of West No. 2 seed Southern/East No. 3 seed Mississippi Valley State on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. on field one.
