JACKSON, Miss. – With a difference of three runs combined, Alabama A&M (8-14, 5-7 SWAC) dropped a pair of games by 3-1 and 3-2 scores at Jackson State (13-17, 9-4 SWAC) in an NCAA Division I softball doubleheader on Sunday, April 18.
 
GAME 1: JACKSON STATE 3, ALABAMA A&M 1
The Bulldogs got on the board early with a walk and single in the top of the first before freshman first baseman Esperanza Coe (Beaumont, Calif.) singled home senior outfielder Ariel McAtee (Smyrna, Tenn.) for a 1-0 lead. As it turned out, that would be their lone runner to cross home plate in the game as JSU pitching would limit them to just two more hits the rest of the way.
 
Conversely, the Tigers offense, while not explosive would manage three runs between the fourth and fifth innings to pull ahead 3-1. Isabel Gusman would factor into two of them as she tripled and came home on an error in the fourth and singled home a run in the fifth. The other run would score on an error earlier in the frame.
 
From there Jackson State would go on to close out the two-run victory as they allowed just one hit over the final two innings.
 
Coe led the way for A&M with an RBI and a 2-for-3 day and freshman shortstop Serena Herbranson (Hemet, Calif.) and junior designated hitter Rachael McKinney (Birmingham, Ala.) had the other two hits. McAtee scored the only run and drew a walk while junior pitcher Alyssa Lopez (San Leandro, Calif.) went all six innings in the circle, allowing just three earned runs and striking out two to fall to 1-7.
 
Gusman led the Tigers as she went 2-for-3 with a triple, RBI and run scored and Isis Taylor and Monica Serrano had the other RBIs. The latter added a run and Zoey Keyes finished 2-for-3. In the circle, Takiya Hill threw all seven innings, surrendering just one run and four hits to improve to 2-2.
 
GAME 2: JACKSON STATE 3, ALABAMA A&M 2
It would be another low scoring affair as the clubs would combine for just two hits over the first three innings, both by the Bulldogs.
 
That would change entirely in the fourth as sophomore third baseman Taylor Woods (Decatur, Ala.) singled to led off the inning and came around to score on a Lopez triple for a 1-0 lead. With a double play on the bases right before that and the third out right after it, that would be all they would get.
 
Jackson State would finally wake up their bats in the bottom of the fourth, but not until after two outs to start the inning. Back-to-back singles by Alexis Arredondo and Gusman put two on with two outs and Taylor jacked a three-run shot for a 3-1 lead through four.
 
It would stay that way until the top of the seventh when senior catcher Haleigh Winter (Huntsville, Ala.) led off with a double and promptly stole third. Following a strikeout she would come home on an RBI groundout by freshman outfielder Brianna Winchester (Lavaca, Ark.) to cut it to one. A&M then singled in their next at bat but would see a strong throw to from the outfield nab the runner at second to close out the narrow 3-2 decision.
 
Woods led the Bulldogs with a 3-for-3 day and a run scored while Lopez was 2-for-3 with a triple and RBI. Winchester added the other RBI and Winter doubled, stole a base and scored on the day. Coe pitched all six innings and scattered six hits, struck out seven and allowed three earned runs to suffer the loss and drop to 7-5.
 
Taylor did the bulk of the damage for JSU with her three-run blast and was one of six Tigers with exactly one hit on the afternoon. Of those, Jalia Hubbard lined a double and Macie Kippenbender threw a complete game, allowing a pair of earned runs among nine hits to move to 5-7 on the year.
 
After 29 days without a home game, the Bulldogs will finally get to enjoy the comforts that home field brings as they host rival Alabama State in a three-game set – and strive to make it as uncomfortable for the Hornets as possible. That series will run from April 23-24 with a 3 p.m. first pitch on the opening day and a 12 p.m. doubleheader the following afternoon.