Alabama A&M softball team off to 6-0 start

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
ROSTER

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Alabama A&M head softball coach Nakeya Hall was planning to use the opening weekend as a gauge to see how her young team would respond and play on the collegiate level.

Well, the Lady Bulldogs are 6-0 after sweeping through the four-game Hampton Jordan Softball Classic and a doubleheader at South Carolina State of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

So, coach, what do you think?

"I'm very pleased with the way the team performed," Hall said. "Today (Sunday) was competitive ... we're a pretty good team."

The Lady Bulldogs lightly challenged in the tournament but faced tougher competition at SC State.

"Defensively, we played an outstanding game," Hall said of Sunday morning's 5-4 extra-inning win. "We were up 4-0 and, by far, in control of the game but they hit a grand slam to tie it."

Hall said Jordan Bradley started the game and "pitched great." But she brought in Rachel Sanders to close the door.

"She faced her sister (Nicole) and then scored the winning run," Hall said. "It was absolutely exciting.

"They showed a lot of heart."

In the afternoon game, SC State had a 3-2 lead and Taiya McInnes came off the bench with the game-winning hit to score Ariel Smith.

"I told them we didn't come her just to beat the teams in the tournament, but to get six wins," said Hall, a graduate and former assistant coach at SC State. "It was a great homecoming for me and it feels even better coming back with the wins."

The Lady Bulldogs open at home on Friday when Tennessee State visits for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

AAMU 2015 SOFTBALL SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Location Time/Result Details
Claflin University Tournament
2/6/2015 Clark Atlanta University Orangeburg, SC W 11-3
2/6/2015 Virginia Union University Orangeburg, SC W 16-7
2/7/2015 Edward Waters (Fla.) Orangeburg, SC W 12-0
2/7/2015 Benedict College Orangeburg SC 5 p.m.
2/8/2015 South Carolina State University (DH) Orangeburg, SC 10 a.m.
2/13/2015 Tennessee State University Huntsville, Ala. - Bulldog Field 1 p.m.
2/14/2015 Tuskegee University Huntsville, Ala. - Bulldog Field Noon
2/15/2015 Belmont University Nashville, TN 2 p.m.
2/24/2015 Tennessee State University Nashville, TN 3 p.m.
Frost Classic
2/27/2015 Wright State University Chattanooga TN 11 a.m.
2/27/2015 Belmont University Chattanooga TN 1:30 p.m.
2/28/2015 Eastern Kentucky University Chattanooga, TN 11 a.m.
2/28/2015 Tennessee Tech University Chattanooga, TN. 4 p.m.
3/1/2015 South Dakota State University Chattanooga, TN 11 a.m.
Tiny Laster HBCU Classic (SWAC vs. MEAC)
3/6/2015 Tennessee State University Birmingham, AL 5 p.m.
3/7/2015 North Carolina Central University Birmingham, AL. 9 a.m.
3/7/2015 Savannah State University Birmingham, AL 3:45 p.m.
3/8/2015 Morgan State University Birmingham, AL 11:15 a.m.
3/12/2015 Northern Kentucky University Huntsville, Ala. - Bulldog Field 1 p.m.
Mercer University
3/13/2015 Michigan State University Macon, GA. 1:15 p.m.
3/13/2015 Mercer University Macon, GA 5:45 p.m.
3/14/2015 Youngstown State Macon, GA. 10 a.m.
3/14/2015 Michigan State University Macon, GA 12:15 p.m.
SWAC Roundup
3/20/2015 * University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff Longview, TX. 4 p.m.
3/21/2015 * Southern University Longview, TX 10 a.m.
3/21/2015 * Prairie View A&M University Longview, TX 3 p.m.
3/22/2015 * Grambling State University Longview, TX 10 a.m.
3/22/2015 * Texas Southern University Longview, TX 12:30 p.m.
3/27/2015 * Alcorn State University Huntsville, Ala. - Bulldog Field 3 p.m.
3/28/2015 * Alcorn State University (DH) Huntsville, Ala. - Bulldog Field 1 p.m.
4/8/2015 LeMoyne-Owen College Huntsville, Ala. - Bulldog Field 1 p.m.
4/10/2015 * Jackson State University Huntsville, Ala. - Bulldog Field 3 p.m.
4/11/2015 * Jackson State University (DH) Huntsville, Ala. - Bulldog Field 1 p.m.
4/14/2015 LeMoyne-Owen College Memphis, TN 1 p.m.
4/17/2015 * Alabama State University Montgomery, AL 6 p.m.
4/18/2015 * Alabama State University (DH) Montgomery, AL 1 p.m.
4/24/2015 * Mississippi Valley State Itta Bena, MS 6 p.m.
4/25/2015 * Mississippi Valley State (DH) Itta Bena, MS 1 p.m.
SWAC Tournament
5/6/2015 * TBA Decatur AL
5/7/2015 * TBA Decatur, AL
5/8/2015 * TBA Decatur, AL
5/9/2015 * TBA Decatur, AL

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION