Lady Bulldogs split day one of Tiny Laster Classic

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Irondale, Ala.-The A&M softball team took on Miles College of the SIAC and the Florida A&M University of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in the seventh annual Tiny Laster HBCU Classic. The annual tournament pits schools from Historical Black Colleges and Universities in a bragging rights battle.

The Maroon & White opened play at the annual HBCU Classic versus the Bears of Miles College at Shea Brothers Softball Complex.

A&M got on the board first, as a throwing error by the Miles pitcher allowed a run to score. In the second inning, Taiya McInnes was robbed of a hard hit double by a diving Lady Bear fielder. Catcher Melony Hill made up for her teammate being robbed, by slapping an even harder double past the same defender. Despite, getting runners on base, the Maroon & White failed to score in the inning and ensuing inning.

Starting pitcher Anisa Britt did her part, as she held the Bears scoreless for the three innings. The top of the inning saw the Nakeya Hall led team plate four runs. The scoring flurry was cut short after shortstop Aleah Garth was arguably called out for leaving early on a second base steal attempt after beating the catchers throw.

Miles would record their only run of the game in the bottom of the fourth on an A&M throwing error.

The Lady Bulldogs would go on to capture a 7-1 victory, after adding two runs in the final inning.

In the second contest of the day, the Rattlers of Florida A&M University recorded a 6-0 victory over Alabama A&M.

The bats cooled off for the Maroon & White in their second outing. They were able to tally five hits on 26 at bats. Defensively, A&M recorded 18 total putouts (nine assists), led by first baseman Viridiana Ramos' eight.

This game saw multiple close calls go against the Lady Bulldogs, with the most controversial call coming during a bases loaded sixth inning. Ramos reached first base as Ashley Gonzales slid into second with the fielder juggling the caught ball. Gonzales was called out, negating a Ramos RBI that would have scored left fielder Chelsey Ferguson, and ignited the A&M comeback rally.

A&M would finish the game leaving three runners on base in consecutive innings, and trailing 6-0.

They concluded the day at 8-10 on the season, and set to face Savannah State University Sunday morning, March 2, at 11 a.m.

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