DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. ^__ After winning the second game against Bethune-Cookman on Saturday, Alabama A&M struggled at the plate in the final contest on Sunday to fall in the series two games to one to start SWAC play.
 
Venice Sanders led off the game with a single to right field for the Bulldogs, who later got their second and third batters on with errors to lo load the bases yet could not convert and left all three runners on base at the close of the top half of the inning.
 
The Wildcats got on the board in the bottom half of the first, as an infield single got their first runner on. A few batters later, the runner crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly to right field for the 1-0 lead.
 
Bethune-Cookman added to their lead in the second with another five runs, first on an RBI single to score two, followed by a score on a groundout not long after. Samantha Kelly gave them a 6-0 lead heading into the third after an RBI double to center field before the close of the frame.
 
The Wildcats added another two scores in the sixth, while continuing to hold A&M scoreless, for the 8-0 final.

A&M was held to just two hits in the game, one from Sanders and another from Serena Herbranson in the fourth.

Meanwhile, Sydney Hall earned the start in the circle, working 5.1 innings and allowing eight runs on seven hits. The right-hander struck out one batter, along with forcing nine ground outs and five fly balls in the loss. Krista Sikes came in out of the bullpen in the sixth to finish the contest.

Up Next
Alabama A&M will continue SWAC play next weekend with a series against rival Alabama State. The three-day series is set to begin on Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Bulldog Field.
 
Follow the Bulldogs
Stay connected with Alabama A&M Softball on Instagram and Twitter (@aamusoftball). For complete coverage of Alabama A&M athletics, follow on social media at @aamuathletics (Instagram) and @AAMUBulldogs on Twitter, and visit the official home of Alabama A&M University athletics at www.aamusports.com.