BOILING SPRINGS - Gardner-Webb's impressive sixth inning was
enough to defeat the North Carolina A&T softball team 4-2 in the first game
of A&T's season-opening doubleheader Tuesday at Varsity Field. A&T lost the second game 5-1.
Tranea Jones led the Aggies with two hits and an RBI in the
first game. They were held to one hit in Game 2.
Junior college transfer Ashira Dobison made her Aggie
pitching debut on Monday and was effective. Over the first five innings, she
allowed just one run, none earned and five hits. She opened the sixth, however,
by walking Savannah Burns. Burns moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lindsea
Hutchinson.
Jordyn Arrowood followed with one-hit single through the
right side to score Burns for a 2-0 Gardner-Webb lead. Samantha Meenaghan
delivered the biggest blow as she roped a two-run homer to right center to complete
a three-run inning that gave the Bulldogs a 4-0 advantage.
The Aggies did not retreat. Sophomore Dominique Smith earned
a walk from GWU starter Jessica Childers to open the seventh. Preseason
All-MEAC selection Hope Fletcher put runners on first and second with a one-out
single. Juanita Jernigan reached on a throwing error that allowed Smith to
score and Fletcher to move to third.
A Jones sacrifice fly allowed Fletcher to score to move the
Aggies to within two with the tying run at the plate. But Detavia Kenan popped
out in foul territory on the third-base side to end the game. Childers (1-1)
picked up the win by pitching seven innings, striking out three, walking one
and not surrendering an earned run.
Dobison's debut included giving up four runs, three earned
and striking out one. Freshman Alexandria McAfee made her Aggie debut on the
mound in the second game. McAfee walked one, struck out one and gave up 11 hits
over six innings.
Two errors allowed the Aggies to score their only run of the
second game. Raven Smith reached first in the fifth inning on a fielding error
by third baseman Burns. She was eliminated on a fielder's choice that allowed
Kenan to reach. Kenan stole second and scored on a throwing error by Burns to
make it 3-1.
The Bulldogs closed out the Aggies with two more runs in the
sixth. Game 2 starter Alyssa Gutierrez pitched a complete-game, one-hitter and
did not give up an earned run, while striking out eight. Smith had the Aggies
only hit in Game 2.
The Aggies (0-2) will host the North Carolina A&T
Softball Invitational this weekend (Feb.24-26) at the Lady Aggies Softball
Complex. A&T opens the tournament 1 p.m., Friday against Youngstown State.
