MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama A&M (2-9, 0-0 SWAC) split a pair of games on the opening day of the HBCU Heritage Classic tomorrow, falling 1-0 to Alabama State (6-8, 0-0 SWAC) and picking up a 6-4 victory over Grambling (7-4, 0-0 SWAC) in a pair of NCAA Division I softball games on Saturday, February 26.
 
GAME 1: Alabama State 1, Alabama A&M 0
A pitcher's duel would ensue right from the very beginning as the Bulldogs dropped a narrow 1-0 decision to rival Alabama State (6-8, 0-0 SWAC) in the tournament opener.
 
The Hornets would put a runner in scoring position in the first with a single by Kindall DeRamus, who then stole second, before A&M got out of it with a groundout. They would manage a single in the second before gaining no traction in the third before Jaeda Gardner singled and notched a steal in the fourth, only to see it go for naught following a pop-up to end the frame.
 
It would not be until the sixth inning when ASU would break through as DeRamus singled and moved to second on a groundout following the second out. Destinee Dixon then singled to right to bring her home and set the stage for the Hornets to try to lock down a perfect game.
 
That would be the case as Bailey Greenlee induced a flyout on the first batter, fielded a bunt back to the circle and struck out the final batter to lock up the softball rarity.
 
Greenlee would be the star for ASU as she pitched a perfect seven innings, recording five strikeouts as she set 21 batters down in a row to move to 4-5. DeRamus went 2-for-3 at the plate with the lone run while Dixon drove for home for the only RBI.
 
For A&M, freshman Paige Scott (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada) was the lone bright spot as she delivered another strong performance in the circle. She would throw all six innings, allowing just the one run and six hits to suffer the loss and fall to 0-3.
 
GAME 2: Alabama A&M 6, Grambling 4
It would be a far different story in the nightcap, however, as the Bulldogs bats would come to life – just not right away.
 
Facing another Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) foe in Grambling (7-4, 0-0 SWAC) they would find themselves down 3-0 in the first. A pair of RBI singles with an error sandwiched in between fueled that rally before a strikeout and a groundout closed the frame.
 
A&M would challenge in the top of the second as senior first baseman Rachael McKinney (Birmingham, Ala.) doubled and, following a line out, advanced to third on a single. It would go no further, however, as a foul pop to first base ended the threat.
 
A fielder's choice and stolen base in the third put the Bulldogs in position to get on the board, something they did when junior pitcher Alyssa Lopez (San Leandro, Calif.) laced a single to centerfield to cut it to 3-1. Lopez would then hold them hitless over the next three innings and set the stage for A&M to go to work.
 
They would waste no time as McKinney belted a ball deep over the left field fence to lead off the fourth and cut the deficit to one. Freshman outfielder Allyson Riches (San Diego, Calif.) then walked and was sacrificed over to second. From there she rounded the bases when freshman shortstop Serena Herbranson (Hemet, Calif.) roped a double to the right center field gap to tie at 3-3.
 
The Tigers avoided any further damage in that inning but would not be so fortunate the following frame as a leadoff walk would come home to roost. Lopez sacrificed over junior catcher Brooklyn Wallace (Hartselle, Ala.) who then came home when GSU committed a throwing error to make it 4-3. McKinney would continue her impressive day with a single to left to continue the inning but a liner got Grambling out of the jam.
 
Having found a method that worked, the Bulldogs went right back to building a run the following inning with a walk, SAC bunt and an error that put sophomore catcher Imani Mathis (Elk Grove, Calif.) on third with one out. Freshman outfielder Da'Nijah Wade (Columbia, Tenn.) then reached on an error, bringing her home for a 5-3 advantage. She promptly stole second but a groundout then closed out the inning.
 
Back-to-back singles and a groundout put runners on second and third in the home half of the sixth for the Tigers, who then had Katlyn Moore drop down a SAC bunt that brought home a run and made it 5-4. They would get nothing else and Alabama A&M would take advantage, plating another run in the seventh as Riches singled to left to make it a two-run margin as the teams headed to the bottom of the seventh.
 
As it turned out, that insurance run would prove handy as GSU rallied in their half of the inning, using two singles and a walk to load the bases with two outs. Lopez and the defense would be equal to the task, however, as they forced a fielder's choice to end the game and secure the 6-4 victory.
 
Antiya Randle would lead the Tigers with a 2-for-4 day that saw her drive home a run and score one herself while Tytianna Robinson was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Anaiyah Fultz and Moore each added an RBI and India Wells was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Ja'Lynn Bonner pitched 6.2 innings, allowing four earned runs and 10 hits to take the loss and fall to 0-1 on the year.
 
McKinney anchored A&M's performance as she went 3-for-4 with a homerun, double, RBI and run scored while freshman outfielder Tatianna Roman (Cypress, Calif.) was 2-for-4. They were joined by junior designated player Venice Sanders (Birmingham, Ala.), Lopez, Riches and Herbranson with an RBI apiece. Lopez came on in relief, hurling 6.2 innings, striking out a pair and allowing just a run and six hits to pick up the win and move to 1-2.
 
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs close out the HBCU Heritage Classic tomorrow, Sunday, February 27 when they take on South Carolina State and Alabama State at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.