VICKSBURG, Miss. – Alabama A&M (1-8, 0-0 SWAC) dropped their final three games at the River City Classic, falling 9-0 to Alcorn State (7-4, 0-0 SWAC) and 8-0 to North Alabama (7-2, 0-0 ASUN) on Saturday, February 19 and 4-0 to Eastern Illinois (5-4, 0-0 OVC) in NCAA Division I softball games.
 
GAME 1: Alcorn State 9, Alabama A&M 0
Following a scoreless top of the first inning, Alcorn would push across five runs on five hits, highlighted by three RBI singles, a passed ball and a bases loaded walk.
 
After that offensive outburst, neither team would mount any challenge as they combined for no hits over the next five half innings, leaving the score at 5-0 entering the bottom of the fourth. That frame would see the Braves manage four hits and as many runs to put the game away, 9-0, in five innings.
 
Kristian Edwards and Marsha Hunt each went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a pair of runs to lead Alcorn while Tyesha Cole, Jillian Walters, Kelsey Lockridge and Sarah Kennedy each drove home one. In the circle, Lexi Veamoi threw all five innings, striking out two and allowing just one to pick up the victory.
 
Junior catcher Brooklyn Wallace (Hartselle, Ala.) led A&M with a 1-for-2 day while freshman Paige Scott (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada) threw 3.2 innings in relief, allowing three earned runs and striking out four.
 
GAME 2: North Alabama 8, Alabama A&M 0
The Lions would get on the board in the bottom of the first, scoring three on three hits and bringing those runs home on an error, a sacrifice fly and a single.
 
Alabama A&M would then hold UNA to one hit over the next two innings before an error, flyout, grounder and single to center by Sidney Bevis tacked on a run to make it 4-0.
 
The Bulldogs would threaten in the top of the fifth as freshman outfielder Allyson Riches (San Diego, Calif.) laced a leadoff double and sophomore first baseman Shalin Charles (Fayetteville, Ark.) reached on an error. That would be as close as they would come to pushing a run across, however, as the Lions notched a strikeout and groundout to get out of the jam.
 
In the bottom of the inning they would end it as six hits, all singles, led to four runs to reach what would be the final margin of 8-0.
 
Maleah Hargett led North Alabama with a 2-for-3 day that saw her drive home two and score one of her own while Bevis went 2-for-3 with a run and RBI. Mary G. Kilpatrick, Emma Broadfoot, Haven Kirby and Grace Piotrowski each notched an RBI. Sidney Revels pitched all five innings, allowing just two hits and no runs while striking out five to move to 2-1.
 
Riches would lead the way for the Bulldogs with a 2-for-2 day that included a double and junior pitcher Lisabelle Hansel (Hayward, Calif.) started and went four innings. She would allow four earned runs to fall to 0-1 on the young season.
 
GAME 3: Eastern Illinois 4, Alabama A&M 0
In a game where hits would be at a premium, EIU would manage two over the first two innings and then none until the fifth but would make those count.
 
Following an error that allowed the leadoff batter to reach in the bottom of the first, Hannah Cravens belted a two-run homerun to left for a 2-0 lead. An inning later it would be a pass ball and a steal of second by Megan Burton that allowed Morgan Lewis to come home and stretch the lead to 4-0.
 
Burton would then deliver the game's only other hit in the fifth before A&M threatened in the top of the seventh. Wallace would draw a leadoff walk, followed by a strikeout and Riches reaching on a hit by pitch. Another strikeout would take the Bulldogs down to their final out but junior second baseman Alyssa Lopez (San Leandro, Calif.) walked to load the bases.
 
That would be as close as they would come, however, as Hansell lined a ball to shortstop which turned into a game-ending fielder's choice as the Panthers nabbed the runner at second to lock up the 4-0 victory.
 
While offense usually leads the way, it would be Tieghan Morio that headlined the performance as she threw all seven innings, striking out six on her way to a no-hitter. Offensively Cravens went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored while Lewis was 1-for-3 with two runs. Burton had the only other hit, going 1-for-2 with a walk.
 
Lopez and Wallace would earn a walk apiece to lead A&M at the plate while Scott pitched the best game of her young career, going all six innings and allowing just three hits and one run. She would suffer the hard luck loss to fall to 2-0.
 
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs step away from tournament play for a midweek meeting at NCAA Division II member Savannah State for a doubleheader on Wednesday, February 22. The first game is slated for 12 p.m. start with the second to follow at approximately 2 p.m.
 
NOTES
The delay in yesterday's game recaps of the Alcorn State and North Alabama games were due to tournament host Alcorn State not providing statistics.