THE HILL | In a split double header matchup between the Alabama A&M Bulldogs and the Jackson State Tigers, junior Akyndra Montalvo recorded a home run in each contest, pushing the Bulldogs past the Tigers 9-8 in the afternoon contest before AAMU fell 11-8 in the evening event.
In the first contest, the Bulldogs opened scoring after a triple from Dakota Daniel put her on third base. Maria Paula Ocrospoma-Figueroa bunted and headed to first, bringing Daniel around in the process. The Tigers leveled the contest at the top of the second, but the Bulldogs went back ahead, after Zahria Jones singled to left field, and Allyson Riches ran home from second base. Two runners advanced on a wild pitch before Alexis Gatlin walked, loading the bases. Catherine Hickey reached first on an error from the center fielder, allowing Tori Green to score. Daniel flied out to center field but not before Skylar Bledsoe, who entered to pinch run for Jones, crossed home plate.
The Tigers scored two more at the top of the fifth, but the Bulldogs responded by more than doubling that performance. Montalvo earned her first run during her at bat in the bottom of the fifth. Riches singled to second base before advancing to third at the next at-bat. Katie Puckett stepped up to the plate and doubled, bringing Riches home. Kailey Harden singled to right field, placing Puckett on third base during the process. Toni Purchas grounded out to the third baseman, but not before Puckett scored. Daniel singled and stole second, advancing Harden to third. Ariana Montiel singled to center field in the next at-bat, adding two RBI's in the process and giving the Maroon and White a 9-4 lead heading into the sixth.
Neither team got anything going in the sixth frame. Attempting a comeback, the Tigers added four runs with two out and two Bulldog pitching changes. Alyssa Charter-Smith ultimately struck out a Tiger batter to solidify the 9-8 win.
AAMU jumped to a three-run lead in round off game, forcing three up and three down at the top of the contest before earning their runs. JSU nearly tied the game, adding two runs at the top of the second, but eventually adding another at the top of the third to level the contest at three all. At the bottom of the fourth, Jones doubled to center field while Callia Rooks, who entered to pinch run for Gatlin, scored from second base.
The Tigers extended their two-run lead to four at the top of the fifth, but the Bulldogs would not go down without a fight, scoring four runs in the frame. Ariana Montiel doubled to center field then advanced to third after Ocrospoma-Figueroa reached on an error. Montalvo once again sent a ball flying past the wall to add three RBI's and bring AAMU within one of JSU. With a Maroon and White uniform on all three bases, Kayden Ratcliff grounded out, but Puckett ran home to score what would be the final Bulldog run.
With the score tied and night fall in the near distance, the Tigers took a scoreless sixth and used it to power a three-run seventh inning that pushed JSU just past the Bulldogs, splitting the double header after the 11-8 decision.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs embark on a nine-game road swing, first heading to Daytona Beach to take on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on April 4th and 5th. Fridays contest is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. with Saturday's double header taking place at noon and 2 p.m.
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