HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A three-run first inning was too much to overcome despite Alabama A&M (8-17, 5-10 SWAC) shutting down rival Alabama State (14-25, 9-6 SWAC) for the final five innings before falling by a 4-1 score in an NCAA Division I softball game on Tuesday, April 27.
The Hornets went to work right away in the first with a leadoff single, sacrifice bunt and a fly ball that put a runner on third with two outs. That run would then cross the plate in the form of Madison Myers to make it 1-0 before an error put another runner right back on base. They wouldn't be there long, however, as Kaley Anthony cranked a homer off the left field foul pole to stretch to a 3-0 lead after one.
A 1-2-3 home half of the inning maintained ASU's lead and allowed them to add to it in the second as Morgan Gaither laced a one-out double, advanced to third on a liner and then came home on a Myers' infield single to third. Myers would steal second to continue to threaten before the Bulldogs got out of the inning with a strikeout.
That 4-0 score would stay that way for the next five innings as freshman pitcher
Esperanza Coe (Beaumont, Calif.) scattered six hits and allowed no other runs to keep A&M within striking distance. The Hornets threatened again in the fourth as pinch runner Lauryn Maher stole second but then was cleanly gunned out by senior catcher
Haleigh Winter (Huntsville, Ala.) at third to get out of the jam.
In the seventh, junior outfielder
Alyssa Lopez (San Leandro, Calif.) singled with one out to get the Bulldogs a baserunner and moved into scoring position on a sac bunt by senior outfielder
Ariel McAtee (Smyrna, Tenn.). Freshman outfielder
Brianna Winchester (Lavaca, Ark.) then rifled a ball to left to break up the shutout before a pop out closed out the 4-1 decision.
Winchester led the way for Alabama A&M with a 2-for-4 day that included that RBI while McAtee was 2-for-3 with a double. Lopez rounded out the offense at 1-for-3 with a run scored and Coe went the distance in the circle, striking out four and surrendering all four runs, two earned, to fall even her record at 7-7 on the season.
Myers went 3-for-4 with a run and RBI to pace ASU while Anthony was 2-for-3 with a homerun, two RBIs and a run scored. Kindall DeRamus finished at 2-for-4 and Gaither was 1-for-3 with a double and run scored. As she had the entire series, Skyler Sullivan went the distance, allowing just the one run while striking out four to collect the win and move to 14-8.
The Bulldogs wrap up the home season from April 30 through May 1 when they host Mississippi Valley State. Game 1 is set for 3 p.m. on Friday, April 30 with the doubleheader portion of the series slated for 12 p.m. on Saturday, May 1.
