HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – It was a tale of two games as Alabama A&M (5-8, 2-1 SWAC) split the doubleheader portion of a three-game series, falling 20-0 to Southern (2-15, 1-2 SWAC) before taking the set with a 5-3 decision in the nightcap in NCAA Division I softball action on Saturday, March 20.
GAME 1: SOUTHERN 20, ALABAMA A&M 0
The Jaguars jumped out ahead in the first inning and never looked back, pounding out five hits and benefitting from a pair of errors as they took a commanding 7-0 lead after one half inning.
The second inning would see SU add another six runs behind four hits and two more errors to extend to 13-0 before spraying eight hits for seven more runs in the third. That put them up 20-0 and they would go on to close out the commanding win by that score several innings later.
The top of the order would produce the Bulldogs two hits as senior outfielder
Ariel McAtee (Smyrna, Tenn.) went 1-for-2 and freshman outfielder
Brianna Winchester (Lavaca, Ark.) was 1-for-1. In the circle junior pitcher
Alyssa Lopez (San Leandro, Calif.) pitched two thirds of an inning and surrendered seven runs (two earned) to fall to 1-4.
Raquel Latta went 1-for-3 to lead the Jaguars but notched four RBIs while Destiny Hernandez was 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Kameri Mott finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a pair of runs scored and Cameron Andrews laced a pair of doubles as part of a 3-for-3 effort that included two driven in. Hope Kruebee finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored and Aubrion James pitched all five innings, allowing both hits and striking out four.
GAME 2: ALABAMA A&M 5, SOUTHERN 3
The rubber game of the series, following a Bulldogs win in the opener, would be a different story, however. Following back-to-back 1-2-3 innings, a single, walk and fielder's choice set the table for Lopez to drive home the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second.
That 1-0 lead wouldn't last long as Andrews singled home the tying run in the top of the third but it would continue to be a game of "can you top this" – and A&M could.
With two outs in the home half of the third, junior outfielder
Olivia Simon (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) cranked one to deep centerfield for her first home run of the season, retaking the lead, 2-1, in the process. The bottom of the fourth would deliver a similar show of power as freshman pitcher
Esperanza Coe (Beaumont, Calif.) helped herself and lifted a bomb over the centerfield fence for a 3-1 advantage.
The top of the fifth would see the Jaguars get their feet under them as they brought home a run on a wild pitch and then tied it up on an Andrews infield single. The bottom of the frame would see Alabama A&M with bases loaded and one out before freshman shortstop
Serena Herbranson (Hemet, Calif.) singled home the go-ahead run. They would then bring home another off an error to push to a 5-3 lead.
From there they would hold SU to just a pair of hits over the next two innings and would not face a serious threat as they earned the series victory with a two-run win.
Coe would led the Bulldogs with a 2-for-3 day that included her first career homerun, two RBIs and a run scored while Simon was 1-for-2 with a solo shot and a walk. Herbranson and Lopez would each add an RBI and Coe earned the win to move to 4-2 with seven innings pitched, one earned run and three striketouts.
Andrews led the Jaguars with a 2-for-4 outing and a pair of RBIs and Kruebee went 1-for-3 with a run scored. In the circle, Kaytlin Donaldson pitched 4.1 innings, allowing seven hits and five runs (four earned) and struck out two to suffer the loss.
Alabama A&M is back in action next weekend as they head to Prairie View, Texas for a three-game set from March 26-27. They will play a single game on Friday and the doubleheader portion of the series on Saturday.
