CARY - In true rivalry fashion, North Carolina A&T and N.C. Central went back and forth on Saturday, but the Aggies last attempt at recapturing the lead fell short as the Eagles softball team defeated the Aggies 12-11 in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader at Thomas Brooks Park.  The Aggies lost the second game 6-3.

A nine-run N.C. Central fifth inning that included a grand slam by Cember Carmichael threatened to secure victory for the Eagles. But the Aggies mounted an impressive seventh-inning rally.

Three consecutive singles led to the first run of the seventh as Juanita Jernigan's RBI single scored Sabrina Edmonds to cut the Eagles' lead to 12-8. Morgan Chappell kept the momentum going by loading the bases with a single. Detavia Kenan provided the Aggies with more runs as her two-run RBI single scored Chappell and Jernigan to move the Aggies to within two.

Senior Ryanne Hill moved the Aggies even closer. Hill, who continues to be hot at the plate, singled to right center field to score Tiffany Macklin. With the go-ahead run at first base, N.C. Central pitcher Kayla McPeek was able to strike out Dominique Gillard to end the game.

Kenan and Hill had three hits and three RBIs apiece. Five different Aggies - Gillard, Edmonds, Jernigan, Chappell and Erica Turner - had two hits. The Aggies trailed 2-0 early before an RBI single from Hill tied the game at 2 in the third inning. After the Eagles took a 3-2 lead, the Aggies battled back to tie the game again as Turner's RBI single scored pinch-runner Niasia Calhoun who was on base because of a Jernigan double.

The Aggies (6-23) were able to take a 7-3 lead before NCCU's big inning. Hill and Kenan had RBIs in the inning. In the second game, Jernigan led the Aggies with two hits and two RBIs. The Aggies return to action Friday when they travel to Tallahassee, Fla., to face Florida A&M at 3:30 p.m.