HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Alabama A&M (7-16, 2-6 SWAC) got a three-run homerun for the second straight day and was able to capitalize on it as they earned a split with Florida A&M (9-20, 4-5 SWAC), falling 9-5 in the opener and claiming a 7-1 victory in the nightcap in a pair of NCAA Division I softball game on Saturday, March 26.
 
GAME 1: Florida A&M 9, Alabama A&M 5
The clubs would exchange runs over the first two innings with the Rattlers' Kiauna Watson leading off with a single, advancing to second on a wild pitch and third on a throwing error. She then came home on a strikeout for a 1-0 lead before AAMU responded in the home half of the second.
 
Sophomore pitcher Esperanza Coe (Beaumont, Calif.) would come through in that frame, singling up the middle to bring home senior third baseman Alyssa Lopez (San Leandro, Calif.) to knot it at 1-1.
 
The score wouldn't stay that way long, however, as FAMU followed a one-out single with a two-run bomb by Nyah Morgan for a 3-1 advantage through the top of the third. That lead would double to 5-1 in the fourth as they scored a pair of runs on errors but would need just one blast from Desirae Beacham in the fifth with a home run to expand the lead to five.
 
Gross and the Bulldogs would pull it back to four as Gross singled, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and came home on a wild pitch. FAMU would then grow their lead once again with three runs on a pair of hits in the top of the sixth to stretch to a 9-2 advantage.
 
A double by Lopez and a pair of groundouts would then bring her home to cut it to six and the Bulldogs would rally in the seventh. Senior first baseman Rachael McKinney (Birmingham, Ala.) doubled home freshman outfielder Tatianna Roman (Cypress, Calif.) and sophomore third baseman Faith Cross (Pulaski, Tenn.) singled her home to reach the eventual final margin of 9-5. Two plays later a double play would lock down that final.
 
Morgan led the Rattlers with three RBIs and Beacham two while Watson finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a pair of runs scored. Melkayla Irvis  and Destiny Ceuvas each went 2-for-3 with the former adding an RBI and run scored. Brandice Boatwright went all seven innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out four to move to 3-4.
 
McKinney delivered a double, walk and RBI as part of a 2-for-3 day while Cross Coe and Wade had the other RBIs to lead A&M. Sophomore outfielder Iyanna Canada (Oakman, Ala.) went 2-for-4, as did Lopez with an RBI and two runs. Coe started and went 5.1 innings, surrendering four earned runs while striking out six to fall to 2-6.
 
GAME 2: Alabama A&M 7, Florida A&M 1
The Rattlers would take the early lead in the nightcap as Watson singled to get things started, moved into scoring position on a groundout and came home on a Beachum double.
 
That 1-0 margin would hold up until the bottom of the third when back-to-back singles to lead off the frame were followed by a one out single by freshman outfielder Allyson Riches (San Diego, Calif.). On that same play a fielding error in center allowed junior second baseman Venice Sanders (Birmingham, Ala.) to tie it at 1-1.
 
An inning later Sanders would feature prominently yet again, this time belting a three-run shot deep over the centerfield fence for a 4-1 lead. After getting out of first and second with one out after that blast FAMU could not maintain that defensive effort.
 
A triple by Cross with one out in the fifth got A&M in business as junior catcher Brooklyn Wallace (Hartselle, Ala.) doubled down the right field line to stretch the lead to five. A single and steal by Gross then set the stage for Wade to reach on a bunt and force a throwing error that allowed both Gross and Wallace to score and make it 7-1.
 
They would then lock down over the last two innings, allowing just two hits – one per inning – to close out the six-run victory to salvage a win in the three-game series.
 
Beacham had the lone RBI for Florida A&M, going 1-for-3 with a double, while Morgan was 2-for-3 with a two-bagger. Jane'a Mobley also went 2-for-3 and Nadia Zenteno threw all six innings, giving up six earned runs to fall to 1-6.
 
Sanders led Alabama A&M with three RBIs and her first homerun as part of a 2-for-3 day with two runs while Wallace delivered a 2-for-3 outing that included a double, RBI and pair of runs. Gross and Wade would go 2-for-4 with the former adding a steal and run and her running mate notching an RBI. Lopez had her best game of the season, throwing a complete game with just one earned run and four strikeouts to improve to 2-3.
 
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs step out of conference action with a doubleheader exhibition against Columbia State Community College on Tuesday, March 29. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. at Bulldog Field.