GREENSBORO (April 13, 2016) – In a midweek doubleheader, North Carolina A&T softball faced a a difficult pitcher in Western Carolina's Taylor Sigmon who threw a perfect game with 11 strikeouts in the first game of a Wednesday doubleader at Lady Aggies Softball Complex. The Catamounts went on to win Game 1, 5-0 before sweeping the doubleheader with a 6-4 win in Game 2.
For the majority of Game 1, the pitching battle controlled the game, with both pitchers throwing a complete game. Aggies starter Janika May gave up a hit in the first that resulted in Crystal Cyr's inside-the-park home run to deep right field. After the slight hiccup, however, May did not allow a hit for four innings. Three hits for the Catamounts in sixth and one in the seventh tacked on four more runs, taking the final score to 5-0. Sigmon was crucial in the Catamounts performance on Wednesday. Her perfect game from the circle in Game 1 was capped by a hit and two RBI. She would come in to pitch again in the fifth inning of Game 2 to clinch her sixth save of the season.
The Aggies found themselves trailing early in Game 2, but a high-scoring second inning put them on top for the first time in the day. Two runs in the top of the second for Western Carolina motivated Mohagony Headen and Talisha Jenkins to lead off the second with back-to-back singles before advancing on Lauren Dunlow's sacrifice bunt. Shi-Anne Campbell, pinch running for Headen, walked in for the first of the Aggies four runs in the inning when Hayes hit Barcenas and May to force in the run. Gray then hit her sixth double of the season, a three-RBI shot to give the Aggies a 4-2 lead.
The Catamounts added three runs in the third thanks in part to Garcia Marsical's two-run RBI triple as WCU regained the lead 5-4. The Catamounts added another run in the fourth when Courtney Price scored on a passed ball. The Aggies left two runners on in the fourth and one apiece in the fifth and sixth as they were not able to overcome WCU's two-run lead. Zadaisha Waddell (4-13) pitched a complete game for the Aggies allowing six hits and two walks throughout the contest.
N.C. A&T looks to maintain their home winning record (9-8) and break the current 11-game losing streak next Wednesday against the visiting Elon Phoenix (22-17). The Aggies then take to the road over the weekend for a three-game series against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponent Savannah State.
