HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Alabama A&M (9-19, 4-8 SWAC) dropped a pair of close games to Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) newcomer Bethune-Cookman (13-22, 8-6 SWAC), falling 4-2 and 2-1, in an NCAA Division I softball doubleheader on Friday, April 8.
 
GAME 1: Bethune-Cookman 4, Alabama A&M 2
Pitching would rule the first two innings as the clubs combined for just two hits, one apiece, before the Wildcats broke through in the third.
 
That run would come on what would be a single to third with a runner on first and see Carrington Robinson knocked to the ground in reaching base. In the confusion the ball got away from first and Haley Parks circled the bases for a 1-0 lead. Despite Robinson advancing to second on a steal and third on a passed ball they would get no more as A&M got out of the inning on a groundout.
 
It would stay that way until the bottom of the fifth as the teams managed just one hit in the next two innings. Junior catcher Brooklyn Wallace (Hartselle, Ala.) would get things started in that frame with a double to left center and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. She then came around to score the tying run on a single to right by freshman outfielder Da'Nijah Wade (Columbia, Tenn.).
 
B-CU would make sure it did not stay knotted up long, however, as they pounded out three runs on two hits and took advantage of three errors. That effort put them up 4-1 heading to the home half of the inning, a frame that would go 1-2-3.
 
After the Bulldogs set the Wildcats down in order in the top of the seventh senior first baseman Rachael McKinney (Birmingham, Ala.) belted a solo homerun to deep right center to cut it to 4-2. A&M would keep the pressure on with Wallace reaching on an error and Wade beating out an infield single with two outs. The rally would end right there, however, as Bethune-Cookman escaped with a liner to short to lock up the two-run victory.
 
Despite scoring four runs on the day, the only RBI came off the bat of pinch hitter Briana Paysinger as she went 1-for-1 with a steal and run scored to lead the Wildcats. No player had more than one hit with Robinson and Shania Owens each accomplishing that while adding a steal apiece to round out the offense. In the circle Hannah Ortega went the distance, striking out eight and allowing just the two runs to move to 10-8.
 
Wade led Alabama A&M with an RBI as part of a 2-for-3 day while McKinney cranked her solo shot to finish 1-for-3 with a run and RBI. Wallace finished 1-for-3 with a double and run scored and senior pitcher Alyssa Lopez (San Leandro, Calif.) threw all seven innings, striking out seven and allowing no earned runs to fall to 2-5.
 
GAME 2: Bethune-Cookman 2, Alabama A&M 1
The Wildcats would take the early lead in the nightcap, as Parks singled and stole second before going to third on a double to left by Robinson. Joslynn Davis then dropped down a sac bunt to bring Parks home for a 1-0 lead before a pop out and strike out ended the inning.
 
The Bulldogs would get three singles in the bottom of the first but would have nothing to show for it as B-CU negated the rally with a caught stealing, groundout and pop out.
 
Following a hitless inning for both clubs, the Wildcats would then mount a rally in the third with a Parks single and steal and a Robinson infield single and an error putting two runners in scoring position. A&M would work out of the jam, however, as they got a strikeout and a grounder out of the next two batters.
 
That would be the last substantive rally until the top of the sixth when Robinson doubled to left to lead off the frame. She moved to third on a sac bunt and then came home one play later on a passed ball to double the lead to 2-0.
 
Having established themselves as a late inning team, the Bulldogs would embrace that approach again as they still trailed by two in the bottom of the seventh. McKinney would get things going with a leadoff single before sophomore outfielder Iyanna Canada (Oakman, Ala.) pinch ran for her. She would then move to second as Wallace reached on an error and both runners moved up on a sac bunt.
 
Lopez would then loft a ball to right field to score Canada and cut the deficit in half but they would get no closer as B-CU put the narrow one run victory away with a strikeout on the next batter.
 
Robinson went 3-for-3 with a double and run scored to pace the Wildcats while Parks was 2-for-3 with a run and a pair of steals. Davis had the lone RBI and Ortega threw her second complete game of the day, allowing just one earned run and five hits to move to 11-8.
 
Freshman outfielder Allyson Riches (San Diego, Calif.) and McKinney both went 2-for-3 on the day for Alabama A&M while Lopez had an RBI on her sac fly. Sophomore pitcher Esperanza Coe (Beaumont, Calif.) delivered her third straight strong outing, going all seven innings and striking out four while allowing just the two earned runs. She falls to 4-7 on the year.
 
The Bulldogs return to action tomorrow, Saturday, April 9 for the final game of the series against Bethune-Cookman. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. at Bulldog Field.
 
NOTES
The meeting between the teams was just the third all-time, first since 2005 and first ever on record at Bulldog Field.