JACKSON, Miss. – A three-run first inning was too much to overcome as Alabama A&M (8-12, 5-5 SWAC) dropped a 5-1 decision at Jackson State (11-17, 7-4) in an NCAA Division I softball game on Saturday, April 17.
 
Following a 1-2-3 first inning on defense, the Tigers bats came to life with three hits and capitalized on an error to push across three runs. A leadoff double by Kayla Owens got things started and was followed by Monica Serrano reaching on an error and Alexis Arredondo on a single. Isabel Gusman then doubled home Serrano and Owens for a 2-0 lead. Arrendondo then came around to score on a passed ball for a 3-0 advantage.
 
The Bulldogs would muster a pair of hits the following inning but could not bring any home and the margin would remain three until an RBI triple by Samiah Huckabee and an Owens RBI groundout pushed it to 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth.
 
A&M got on the board in the top of the fifth as junior outfielder Alyssa Lopez (San Leandro, Calif.) reached on an error and came around to score two batters later on a double by senior outfielder Ariel McAtee (Smyrna, Tenn.).
 
With just two hits combined, both by JSU, over the final two innings the Tigers would go on to close out that 5-1 victory.
 
McAtee led the way with a 2-for-3 day that included an RBI while Lopez had the only run of the day and freshman pitcher Esperanza Coe (Beaumont, Calif.) was 2-for-3. In the circle, the latter went six innings, allowing seven hits and four earned runs to fall to 7-4 on the year.
 
Gusman went 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs to pace Jackson State and Owens was 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored. Arredondo was 2-for-3 with a run Huckabee finished 1-for-2 with an RBI and run. Owens also did the job in the circle, throwing a complete game in which she allowed just the one run and struck out five.
 
The Bulldogs are back in action tomorrow, Sunday, April 18 with the final two games of the series. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.