COVINGTON, GA — The Bowie State softball team (0-2) dropped a pair of contests at the HBCU Softball Invitational, falling 14-1 to Florida A&M in the opener before suffering an 8-3 setback to North Carolina A&T State University in the nightcap.

Game One: Florida A&M 14, Bowie State 1
Bowie State managed two hits but could not keep pace with Florida A&M's offensive surge in a five-inning contest.

The Lady Rattlers broke through in the third inning with a three-run frame, highlighted by an RBI double, to take a 3-0 lead. BSU responded in the fourth when Presleigh Braxton tripled to right-center and later scored on a wild pitch to put the Bulldogs on the board and trim the deficit to 3-1.

Florida A&M answered immediately with three more runs in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 6-1. The Lady Rattlers then sealed the game in the fifth, erupting for eight runs, including a three-run home run and a bases-clearing single, to secure the 14-1 victory.

Sydney Seals started in the circle for the Bulldogs, pitching three innings with six strikeouts. Makayla Drakeford provided two innings of relief.

Top Performers – Game One
Presleigh Braxton – 1-for-2, triple, run scored
Mikayla Amos – 1 hit
Sydney Seals – 3.0 IP, 6 strikeouts

Game Two: North Carolina A&T 8, Bowie State 3
In the second game of the day, the Bulldogs showed resilience but were unable to overcome a decisive fifth inning by North Carolina A&T.

The Lady Aggies struck first in the opening inning with an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead. Bowie State battled back in the fifth inning when Braxton delivered a two-RBI single to give the Bulldogs momentum and cut the deficit to 3-2.

However, North Carolina A&T capitalized in the bottom half of the fifth, using a combination of timely hits and Bulldog miscues to score five runs and extend the lead to 8-2.

BSU added a run in the sixth inning when Audrey Newell launched a solo home run, but the Bulldogs could not close the gap further.

Aaliyah Amos went the distance in the circle, pitching a complete game with six strikeouts over six innings.

Top Performers – Game Two
Audrey Newell – 2-for-3, home run, RBI
Presleigh Braxton – 1 hit, 2 RBIs
Aaliyah Amos – 6.0 IP, 6 strikeouts

The Bulldogs return to action Saturday, Feb. 14 against Alcorn State with first pitch set for 12:15 p.m. at the Turner Lake Softball Complex in Covington, Ga.

For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity sport teams, visit bsubulldogs.com.