TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 9, 2016) – A two-run game-winning home run in extra innings was North Carolina A&T's downfall in the second game of a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference softball doubleheader Saturday as Florida A&M defeated the Aggies 9-7 in eight innings at FAMU Softball Complex. The Rattlers also took Game 1, 7-2.
Florida A&M (20-20) remained undefeated in the conference at 8-0. The Aggies dropped to 13-22 overall and 2-6 in the MEAC.
Senior Alejandra Barcenas led the Aggies in Game 2 by going 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Sophomore Raven Gray had a 1-for-3 Game 2 that included three runs scored and two RBI. Seniors Janika May and Kimberly Brunson had two RBI apiece.
Game 2 saw a scrappy N.C. A&T team fight back from a 6-4 deficit going into the seventh and final inning. Freshman Lorrin Turner started the comeback with a single and was replaced on the base paths by freshman Zadia Davis. Davis moved to second after a walk to Gray. One out later, both runners advanced into scoring position on a May ground out to shortstop. With two outs, junior Jillian Nobles represented the go-ahead run but she walked to leave the RBI duties to Brunson.
Brunson delivered with a two-run single to tie the game at 6. The Aggies went for the lead as freshman Talisha Jenkins singled to load the bases, but freshman pinch-hitter Mohagony Headen hit into a force out to end the inning.
May, the Aggies starter in the circle for Game 2, gave up a leadoff walk in the seventh to Tashayla Irvis. Raven Moseley moved Irvis into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt but May settled in and retired the next two Rattler batters to send the game into extra innings.
By rule the runner who made the last out in the previous inning is placed on second to open the extra frame. In this instance, it was Shi-Anne Campbell who was pinch-hit for by Headen but was re-entered into the game to open the bottom of the seventh. Barcenas moved Campbell to third on a single and Campbell was able to beat the throw home on a Gray groundout to give the Aggies their first lead since the first inning at 7-6.
The Ratters did retaliate, however. The Rattlers scored on a double by Kiefi Myick to tie the game at 7 before Denise Anderson secured the win with her game-winning two-run shot. May (4-6) pitched a complete Game 2, giving up eight hits and striking out six.
The Aggies were slow on offense to open the series in Game 1, not getting a runner on base until the third inning. The biggest inning for the Aggies came in the top of the seventh as they avoided the shutout with Gray's leadoff home run, her fourth of the season. A double off the bat of Nobles scored May who reached base on a walk, to account for the Aggies two runs.
Florida A&M scored in the first four innings of the game, putting the Aggies at an early disadvantage. A three-run home run by Myrick in the third was the biggest blow in the four-run frame as FAMU led 6-0 after three.
Freshmen pitchers Zadaisha Waddell (4-12) and Headen combined to strike out eight Rattler batters. Gray went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI in the first game. Gray's 3-for-6 day at the plate kept her batting average over .400.
The MEAC series concludes Sunday at noon.
