THE HILL | The Alabama A&M softball team battled throughout the afternoon, but Bethune-Cookman used a late offensive surge to secure a 7-3 victory in game one, while game two of the doubleheader was suspended due to darkness in the SWAC opener on Friday at Bulldog Field.
Bethune-Cookman struck first in the opening inning with an RBI single to take an early 1-0 lead before adding another run in the second to move ahead 2-0. Alabama A&M responded in the bottom half of the second inning when
Josefina Lacalle delivered an RBI triple to bring home
Ariana Montiel, and
McKenna Furnari followed with an RBI single to even the game at 2-2.
The Wildcats regained the lead in the third inning on a sacrifice fly to make it 3-2, and the score remained unchanged for several innings as both pitching staffs settled in. Furnari worked six strong innings in the circle for the Bulldogs, allowing three runs while Bethune-Cookman created separation in the eighth inning, stringing together five hits and scoring four runs to extend the lead to 7-2. Alabama A&M threatened in the bottom of the frame with a pair of baserunners but was unable to mount a comeback.
The Bulldogs finished with 11 hits in the afternoon.
Akyndra Montalvo and
Kara Burman each recorded two hits, while
Josefina Lacalle added two hits and an RBI. Furnari also contributed at the plate with an RBI as Alabama A&M continued to apply pressure offensively.
Game two went on to the 5th inning with the score being 9-6 with a strong back and forth between the Bulldogs and Wildcats until it was suspended due to darkness.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will continue to host Bethune-Cookman at the Bulldog Softball Field and begin at the top of the sixth inning on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled to start at 12 p.m.
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