ZACHARY, La. — Junior Tamiera Sanchez led the North Carolina Central University softball team with two hits in a 4-2 loss to Alabama State University in Friday's finale of the Chef Celeste Bistro Softball Challenge hosted by Southern University at Zachary Youth Field.
 
The Hornets, who have reached the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championship game in each of the last five seasons, received hits from seven of their nine starting hitters.
 
ASU (1-0) broke a 1-1 tie with a 3-run sixth inning to keep the Lady Eagles from winning for a second time on opening day. Senior Charlene Castro provided the big blow for the Hornets, drilling a two-run home run over the left field fence in the decisive frame.
 
An RBI-triple by senior Casey Dunham provided the Hornets with the initial 1-nil edge, but NCCU was able to level the score with its first run in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman Olivia Daniel led off the frame with a double down the left field line and senior pinch runner Miriam Duen later scored the equalizing run.
 
Daniel accounted for the Lady Eagles other run. She reached base on a fielder's choice after sophomore Jacobia Johnson led off the inning with a single and Daniel later scored on a triple by freshman Madison Mifsud.
 
Mifsud concluded her first day of collegiate softball with four hits and three RBI.
 
Junior Vanessa Bradford (1-0) secured the win in the pitcher's circle for the Hornets, limiting NCCU to just two runs on six hits. Bradford struck out seven Lady Eagles.
 
Sophomore Kiara Hurley tossed her second straight complete game for NCCU on Friday, but suffered her first loss after surrendering four runs on eight hits over seven innings while fanning three Hornets.
 
NC Central (1-1) will play two more games to conclude its play in the Chef Celeste Challenge with two games on Saturday against Howard University (9 AM EST) and Prairie View A&M University (12 PM EST).