GREENSBORO (April 29, 2016) – Sophomore Raven Gray completed a two-run seventh-inning rally by hitting a walk-off single through the right side to give the Aggies a critical 4-3 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win at Lady Aggies Softball Complex Friday evening.
The Aggies trailed 3-2 going into their seventh inning. That made the seventh high stakes considering the Aggies need to take two out of three in the series to clinch a 2016 MEAC Softball Championship Tournament berth May 12-14 in Ormond Beach, Fla. NCCU starter London Booker made those stakes higher when she retired Kimberly Brunson to open the inning. Head coach then inserted freshman Mohagony Headen as a pinch-hitter to spark the Aggies offense.
Headen responded with a single to center field before being replaced by Talisha Jenkins as a pinch runner. Freshman Lauren Dunlow earned the Aggies another base hit to put runners at first and second. Freshman Zadia Davis then ripped a groundball to third base that was hard to handle to load the bases. Senior Alejandra Barcenas then hit a high chopper to first base that Brianna Hampton handled but could not throw out Jenkins coming home as the Aggies tied the game at 3.
Gray stepped into the game-winning opportunity but quickly fell behind in the count 0-2. Gray, however, continued to battle until she ripped her single into right to score Dunlow for the walk-off victory. The Aggies are now 15-28 overall and 4-9 in the MEAC. They play NCCU in a 1 p.m., doubleheader Saturday, needing only one win to clinch the fourth seed out of the MEAC southern division.
Gray continued to lead the Aggies from the plate on Friday, putting up two hits. Both pitchers threw complete games with Janika May allowing eight hits and three runs. The victory improves her record to 5-10 in the circle.
Scoring began early for the Aggies thanks to Barcenas. After getting hit by a pitch from London Booker, Barcenas moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and ground out. A RBI single from Jillian Nobles with two strikes and two outs drove in the runner, making the score 1-0.
The Eagles took a 2-1 lead in the third on three hits. The scoring differential could have been greater had Barcenas not made a diving play to throw out Breanna Carter at second on a force out. A double to left field by Jenny Tracy scored a run for N.C. Central before a single drove home one more. In the fourth, a home run to left center by catcher Casey Hargett put the score at 3-2 until the Aggies dramatic comeback.
