HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – In a continuation of a postponed series from last weekend, Alabama A&M softball split the final two games on Tuesday afternoon against rival Alabama State at home, falling 6-5 before picking up a 4-3 comeback win to close the series.

The Hornets took an early lead in the first game of the day, with a solo homer to right center in the first inning, followed by two more scores in the top of the third to take a 3-0 lead.

Taylor Woods drew a walk to start the bottom half of the third and was the first baserunner for A&M. Later in the inning, Allyson Riches advanced a pair of runners on a sacrifice bunt, resulting in a Hornet error and score from Woods to put the score at 3-1 heading into the fourth.

After allowing two more runs in the fourth, the Bulldogs responded once more in the fifth inning, cutting into the 5-1 deficit. Venice Sanders drove in a pair of runs midway through the frame with a single to right center, allowing scores from Riches and Rooks who earned their way on base earlier.

Finding themselves trailing 6-4 in the bottom of the seventh, A&M scored a pair of unearned runs on two hits and an error, however the comeback effort fell short as they fell 6-5.

The final game had a similar start, with the Hornets getting on the board first, this time in the second inning after an RBI single to right field and going up two runs after crossing the plate on an error in the third.

Alabama A&M got on the board in the bottom half of the inning, as Natalie Picado singled and later scored on a sacrifice bunt from Sanders for her third RBI of the day.

The two sides battled out the next few innings with neither adding to their totals before the sixth, where Alabama State took a 3-1 lead after another RBI single, however A&M also added a score in the inning as Sanders drove in yet another run, this time Brooklyn Wallace who reached on an error to head into the seventh trailing 3-2.

Taylor Woods started the final inning at the plate, reaching base on an error and later advancing to scoring position after pinch hitter Jalia Calloway was hit by a pitch. After a sacrifice bunt to move both runners over, Picado drove home the tying run on a sacrifice bunt before Wallace earned the walk-off RBI single up the middle for the 4-3 win to close the series.

Paige Scott (4-3) picked up the loss in the earlier game, pitching a complete game and allowing six runs on six hits. The right-hander also struck out six batters and forced eight groundouts after facing 30 batters. Sydney Hall picked up the win in the third game, also working a complete game and allowing just three runs off nine hits to go along with eight strikeouts.

Sanders led the Bulldogs from the plate on the day, totaling a combined five hits, four RBI and three runs scored, while five other batters recorded hits in the final game.

A&M will remain at home this weekend as they host Mississippi Valley State for a three-game SWAC series, with the opening game set for Friday at 1 p.m.

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