HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Zahria Jones' grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning set the tone for a five-run frame for Alabama A&M, as the host Bulldogs defeated Bethune-Cookman 5-4 on Friday afternoon in the first game of a three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series at Bulldog Field.
 
Bethune-Cookman (15-29, 13-9 SWAC) sixth-year pitcher Victoria Guzman entered the game for the Wildcats with one out and two aboard in the bottom of the sixth inning. After hitting first baseman Venice Sanders in her first batter faced, Guzman allowed a grand slam home run from Zahria Jones on the very next play.
 
The four-run homer allowed the host Bulldogs a 4-3 lead.
 
Alabama A&M (22-16, 12-8 SWAC) scored what would eventually become the game-winning run as Calia Rooks delivered an RBI single to center field to plate Faith Cross for the 5-4 lead.
 
BCU looked to respond in the top of the seventh as Joslynn Davis walked and Kayla Traylor singled to put runners on the corners with one out.
 
Desirae Martinez collected an RBI sacrifice fly in her at-bat, bringing across Davis for the score, and chipping into the lead at 5-4. However, Essence Gibbs would pop out to end the game.
 
The Wildcats took the lead first in the top-half of the third off the end of an error charged to the Alabama A&M infield, allowing catcher Jordyn Villanueva to score from third.
 
The Cats extended the lead to 2-0 in the fourth after Villanueva pushed out an RBI single past the glove of Brooklyn Wallace at second base and scoring Samantha Kelley in the process.
 
It was 3-0 to the visitors in the fifth courtesy an RBI bunt single from Traylor to score Haley Parks.
 
Paige Scott picked up the win in the pitcher's circle for the Bulldogs, improving her record for the season to 9-4. She went the distance in the circle, surrendering four runs (three earned) on eight hits, three walks and collecting seven strikeouts. The loss was taken by BCU's Guzman, dropping her to 3-12 for the season, while surrendering three runs on one hit and two walks issued.
 
Alabama A&M's Jones was the big hitter with her home run and four RBIs.
 
The Wildcats were led offensively by Traylor's 2-for-4 effort at the plate, adding an RBI as well. Villanueva matched Traylor with two hits, tallying an RBI and a run scored.
 
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