COVINGTON, Ga. | The Alabama A&M University softball team went 1-1 in the opening day of the second annual Leonard Moody HBCU Softball Invitational, falling to the South Carolina State Bulldogs in a slim 2-1 decision, but claiming a 3-2 victory over Fort Valley State.

South Carolina State was the first Bulldog team to score after SCSU's batter walked with bases loaded in the second inning. Neither team saw a run until the top of the fifth when South Carolina State's Kaylah Leslie scored on a double from Kylie Nelson in the top of the fifth to go up 2-0.

The game ran stagnant until the bottom of the seventh, when Ariana Montiel bunted for a single that scored Dakota Daniel. The run was not be enough, as South Carolina State claimed the battle of the Bulldogs.The Alabama A&M Bulldogs finished with one run on seven hits, three of them coming from Daniel, while SCSU.

The night cap started with slower pace, as neither team recorded a run until the bottom of the third, when Ashtyn Perkins scored from a passed ball. At the top of the fifth inning, on a ground out from Destiny King, Allyson Riches scored and Montiel advanced to second, earning the first Bulldog run of the game. On the next at bat, Montiel scored on an RBI single from Tori Green to take a 2-1 lead.  At the top of the sixth, Katie Puckett homered to left field to solidify the 3-1 victory over Fort Valley State.

The Bulldogs will face Maryland Eastern Shore at 10 a.m. and Coppin State at 4 p.m. in the second day of the Invitational.  

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