HUNTSVILLE, Ala. __ Alabama A&M (22-17, 13-9 SWAC) found themselves down early and could not recover in a 14-0 loss on Saturday afternoon to Bethune-Cookman at the Bulldog Softball Field.
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Bethune-Cookman (17-29, 14-9 SWAC) got on the board first with three runs in the second, four more in the third, and the last seven in the fifth in the contest, taking the win with 12 total hits.
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After a scoreless first inning, the Wildcats found their offense in the second, earning three hits and four runs in the frame. The inning started with a lead-off double to center field before a wild pitch and passed ball advanced the runner to third and eventually across the plate.
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Following a walk and fly ball to right field on the next two at-bats, Bethune-Cookman brought home their second run with a pair of bunt singles, before a single up the middle loaded the bases. The next Wildcats batter drew a walk to bring home the third run in the inning, forcing
Paige Scott to come out of the bullpen to finish the inning.
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Bethune-Cookman continued to control the momentum with three more scores in the third, adding two on an RBI double to right field, before going up 7-0 later in the inning as Alabama A&M walked a pair of batter with the bases loaded prior to the close of the frame. The Wildcats broke out for seven runs in the fifth for the final.
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Serena Herbranson and senior
Venice Sanders led the team offensively, both going 1-for-2 at the plate and accounting for the lone two hits of the game. Five different Bulldogs appeared in the circle during the contest, including
Sydney Hall who started and picked up the loss, Herbranson, Sanders, Scott, and
Krista Sikes.
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A&M will look to recover to win the series on Sunday, with first pitch of the finale scheduled for 11 a.m.
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