CONYERS, Ga. - After being shutout in two out of their last three games, the Aggies' bats started working again as the North Carolina A&T softball team defeated Grambling State 15-3 in the Tiny Laster HBCU Challenge at Earl O'Neal Park Sunday afternoon.

An afternoon that included a season-high 20 hits against Grambling included three four-RBI performances from Dominique Smith, Tranea Jones and Juanita Jernigan. Jernigan added four hits, including a home run and two doubles.

Two other Aggies hit home runs, including Jones who had three hits, and Sabrina Edmonds.  Smith added a two-run RBI triple to go along with her 3-for-5 performance. The Aggies lost to Alabama A&M 5-2 in their second game of the day. Despite the loss, the Aggies offense continued to show improvement with seven hits.

"There was a big improvement on how we are swinging our bats," said A&T head coach Mamie Jones. "In the first game against Grambling, they hit very well. We had consistent pitching and defense later in the game."

A&T needed its offense to produce, and it needed a solid performance from No. 1 starter Ashira Dobison. The game didn't start out as a blowout for the Aggies. The Tigers led 3-2 going into the Aggies half of the fourth. Erica Turner started the offensive awakening with a single that was followed by Zabresha Blakeney reaching on an error to put runners on first and second. Smith loaded the bases with a one-out single, which led to an RBI single from Jones. Turner's run tied the game at 3, while Jernigan's two-run RBI single gave the Aggies a 5-3 advantage.

Dobison (2-4) held the Tigers in check until her teammates were able to put the game away in the seventh. Dobison pitched a complete-game, five-hitter, walking four and striking out four. In the home half of the fourth, Dobison pitched her way out of a situation in which a single and walk put Tigers on first and second. But Dobison escaped any damage by striking out Amanda Lester.

The single Dobison gave up to Karroni Brown, and the walk she surrendered to Latrice Wood, were the last two base runners Dobison allowed.

Just to make sure Dobison had enough cushion, the Aggies scored 10 runs in the seventh, the most runs the Aggies have posted in an inning.

The inning was highlighted by consecutive home runs from Jones and Jernigan. Jones' smash was a two-run homer, followed by Jernigan's solo shot. Smith added her two-run RBI triple in the inning.

"We just need to have a complete game," said Jones. "We haven't had a complete game with pitching, hitting and defense coming together as one. We are still young, still learning and still need improvement."

In the second game, the Aggies faced a tough left-hander in Anisa Britt. Britt struck out four over five innings. Smith, Raven Smith and Blakeney had two hits apiece in the game. The Aggies did load the bases against Britt in the sixth. But after Raven Smith scored on a wild pitch, Britt got Dominique Smith to groundout to end the threat.

The Aggies head to UNC Wilmington on Wednesday to face the Seahawks in a 3 p.m., doubleheader.