Montgomery, Ala. – Brehanna Rodrigues hit an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning and Alabama State defeated Alabama A&M for a final of 10-9 at Chisholm Park in the series finale. The series victory landed ASU the fourth and final spot in next month’s Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament Championship.
AAMU (4-26, 5-11) opened the final game of the series scoring two runs in the first inning. ASU(10-30, 6-10)answered in the bottom of the first with a trio of runs of its own when Megan Dixon drove in Rodrigues and Mercedes Frazier hit a two run homerun that made the score 3-2.
The game was tied at 4-4 until the Lady Bulldogs scored four runs in the fifth inning taking a commanding 8-4 lead. The Lady Hornets responded again with Frazier’s three run homer bringing the game to within one run at 8-7. ASU got a sacrifice fly by Dixon that tied the game at 8-8 in the sixth inning
The Lady Bulldogs regained the lead 9-8 in the seventh inning when Vane Kersten hit an RBI single that scored Fayesha Ward. ASU opened the bottom half of the seventh with a homer by Macy Rodgrigues who pinched hit for Breya Wright. Two batters later, Brittinei Price singled, followed by a sacrifice fly from Tiffany Wooden that advanced Price to third. That scenario set up the game winner by B. Rodrigues for a final of 10-9.
Early in game two of the series, both teams would collect a total of 33 hits and 29 runs scored with AAMU taking the game for a final of 19-10. The 19 runs were the most ASU gave up all season long. Nicoless Norton set a team record for the most homeruns in a game with three for the Lady Bulldogs. She finished the game going 5-5 with four runs scored and 6 RBI. B. Rodgrigues was also perfect at the plate going 4-4 with three runs scored.
Alabama State will host non-conference opponent Jacksonville State Wednesday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.