MACON, Ga. – Two early runs and a five run fifth inning were too much to overcome as Alabama A&M (1-5, 0-0 SWAC) dropped a 7-1 decision to Mercer (3-4, 0-0 SoCon) in an NCAA Division I softball game on Friday, February 26 as part of the Bears Black and Orange Classic.
 
After stranding a leadoff walk in the top half of the first, MU took advantage with a two run inning kick started by a leadoff double from Elisa Rosado. An infield single, followed by a hit by pitch, loaded the bases with no one out, something that freshman pitcher Esperanza Coe (Beaumont, Calif.) took care of with back-to-back "caught looking" strikeouts, one on a 3-2 count and the other on three straight pitches.
 
The Bulldogs nearly got completely out of the jam but it was not to be as a roller down the left field line by Diamond Williams was more than enough to bring home two runners for a 2-0 lead, the second of which crossed home plate before an out at second ended the inning.
 
Neither team would pick up a run or mount a serious challenge in the second but that would not be the case in the third inning as the Bears put together five hits, including a pair of doubles and a homerun, on their way to a five run outburst. Madison Headley and Williams delivered the doubles and Adele Braun powered a two-run shot to close out MU's scoring.
 
While their offense would go largely silent, their defense held the Bulldogs without a hit over the next two frames, something that would not continue in the top of the sixth. Junior centerfielder Olivia Simon (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) opened the inning with a double to left and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt.
 
Following a strikeout and a hit by pitch, Coe helped her own cause with an infield single that brought Simon around to score and make it 7-1 before a caught stealing at second ended the inning. From there, Mercer would close out the six run victory an inning later.
 
Simon led Alabama A&M with a 1-for-2 day that included a double, run and a walk while Coe was 1-for-3 with the lone RBI. Freshman outfielder Brianna Winchester (Lavaca, Ark.) rounded out the offense, going 1-for-3 and Coe pitched all six innings, allowing seven runs to go with five strikeouts to fall to 1-2 on the season.
 
Rosado delivered a 4-for-4 day with a double and two runs scored to lead the Bears and Williams was 2-for-3 with a run and three RBIs. Braun went 1-for-3 with her homerun and a pair of RBIs and Danielle Castleberry was 1-of-2 with an RBI and a run. In the circle, Madi Joice went all seven innings, scattering three hits and allowing one run to improve to 1-0.
 
The Bulldogs are back in action tomorrow against both Mercer and the day's earlier opponent, Toledo, on the final day of the tournament. They will face off against the Bears at 2:45 p.m. (EST) and then again with the Rockets at 5 p.m. (EST) to close out their stay in Macon.