Two of the best pitchers in the SWAC dominated Tuesday afternoon, but only one could win.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff fell 2-1 to Florida A&M in eight innings in the first round of the SWAC softball tournament at the Gulfport Sportsplex in Gulfport, Miss.
East No. 1-seed Florida A&M (24-18) right fielder Mia Blasingane led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a single. Leadoff hitter Nyomi Jones bunted her to second. Second baseman Kiauna Watson then attempted to bunt her to third.
Watson beat out the throw to first, then started toward second, drawing the UAPB defense’s attention long enough for Blasingane to take off toward home plate. UAPB threw the ball home, but Blasingane beat the tag to score the walk-off run in extras.
This came after she made a great diving catch in foul territory to end the top of the eighth inning when West No. 4-seed UAPB (19-29) had the go-ahead run at third base.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Both teams displayed dominant pitching. UAPB freshman Kayla Adams (12-10) pitched the entire game, holding FAMU to 2 runs on four hits. She struck out seven hitters with four walks.
Samantha Smith pitched the first inning for FAMU, allowing 1 run on 1 hit with a strikeout and walk each. She then gave way to SWAC pitcher of the year Zoryana Hughes (14-3), also the co-freshman of the year along with Adams. Hughes went 7 innings, allowing no runs on 2 hits and no walks. She struck out 6 hitters.
Both Adams and Hughes went lengthy stretches without allowing a baserunner, both starting in the second inning. Adams retired 15 straight FAMU batters before allowing a walk to Nyah Morgan in the bottom of the seventh. The Lady Rattlers moved her to second with a bunt, but Adams got two fly balls to strand her there and force extras.
Hughes retired 17 straight hitters before an error allowed UAPB’s Samaria Jackson to reach base in the top of the eighth. Jada Crusterson pinch ran for Jackson, eventually making it to third before Blasingane’s inning-ending catch.
Both teams scored in the first inning. UAPB took a 1-0 lead when Shalin Charles hit a two-out RBI single to score Tyrah Elerby, who led off the game with a walk. In the bottom of the first, Morgan hit an RBI single down the third base line to score Watson and tie the game.
In the second, Malani Francis and Jackson hit back-to-back one-out singles, then Jasmine Carlson bunted them into scoring position with two outs. Hughes struck out Elerby to end the threat. UAPB did not get another runner until the eighth.
UAPB will face East No. 3-seed Bethune-Cookman (18-31) in an elimination game at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Bethune-Cookman lost 6-2 to West No. 2-seed Texas Southern in the tournament’s opening game.