COVINGTON, Ga. | The Alabama A&M University softball team bounced back from Friday's two losses by winning a pair of games on Saturday, outlasting South Carolina State, 16-11, and defeating Coppin State, 8-5.
Game 1 – Alabama A&M 16, South Carolina State 11
The Bulldogs (5-3) pounded out 13 hits and capitalized on eight walks, overcoming a seven-run fourth inning by the Lady Bulldogs to secure the victory.
South Carolina State (0-1) struck first in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly from Madison Boyd to take a 1-0 lead.
Alabama A&M answered in the second inning. After Paula Ocrospoma doubled to left,
Bailey Webb drove her in with an RBI double to tie the game at 1-1. Two batters later,
Kali Austerman blasted a three-run home run to center field, scoring
Tori Green and Webb to give the Bulldogs a 4-1 advantage.
The Bulldogs extended the lead to 5-1 in the third when Webb lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring
Kaylee Tatum.
In the fourth,
Ahkeela Honeycutt added a solo homer to center to push the margin to 6-2 .
However, South Carolina State responded with a big bottom of the fourth, scoring seven runs—six unearned—to take a 9-6 lead.
Alabama A&M quickly reclaimed control in the fifth. Webb delivered the decisive swing, crushing a grand slam to center field to put the Bulldogs back on top, 10-9. The Bulldogs added three more runs in the inning on a passed ball, a sacrifice fly by Honeycutt and another passed ball to stretch the lead to 13-9.
South Carolina State scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to trim the deficit to 13-11, but Alabama A&M answered again in the sixth.
Grace Cruthis drew a bases-loaded walk to plate a run, Austerman followed with an RBI single to left, and
Jaliyah Grigsby was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to cap the scoring at 16-11.
Webb led the Bulldogs at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two home runs and six RBIs. Austerman added four RBIs, while Honeycutt chipped in two RBIs and a home run. Ocrospoma and Tatum each contributed key extra-base hits in the win.
In the circle,
McKenna Furnari earned the win after tossing 3.2 innings in relief, allowing two runs (none earned) while striking out five. The Bulldogs limited South Carolina State to seven hits despite issuing seven walks.
Game 2 – Alabama A&M 8, Coppin State 5
Alabama A&M struck early, plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Tori Green reached on an error and swiped second before
Kali Austerman singled to put runners on the corners.
Ariana Montiel executed a sacrifice bunt to bring home the game's first run, and
Jaliyah Grigsby followed with a two-run home run to center field to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 advantage.
Coppin State answered with a run in the second inning, but Alabama A&M extended its lead in the bottom half. After
Hannah Wyroski was hit by a pitch and advanced to third, Green singled to score her before later stealing home to push the lead to 5-1.
The Eagles rallied in the fourth, scoring twice to cut the deficit to 4-3. However, the Bulldogs responded in the bottom half when
Mariah Solorio singled and later scored on another sacrifice bunt from Montiel, making it 5-3.
Coppin State tied the game in the sixth inning with a two-run single, but Alabama A&M quickly answered.
McKenna Furnari opened the bottom of the sixth with a single, and Green reached on an error before stealing second. Montiel's sacrifice fly brought home the go-ahead run, and Grigsby reached on an error to plate an insurance run as the Bulldogs regained control at 7-5.
In the circle,
Dylann Rambally earned the win in relief, tossing 4.1 innings with five strikeouts. D. King recorded the final five outs to pick up her first save of the season and secure the victory.
Grigsby led the offense with a home run and three RBIs, while Montiel also drove in three runs. Green sparked the lineup with three runs scored and multiple stolen bases as Alabama A&M capitalized on speed and pressure throughout the contest.
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M closes out play at the HBCU Tournament against Maryland Eastern Shore on Sunday. First pitch is slated for 10 a.m.
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