GREENSBORO (February 17, 2017) – North Carolina A&T softball went 1-1 in the opening day of the Aggie Invitational at Aggie Softball Complex on Friday, losing their opening game to Valparaiso 3-0 before going on to defeat Howard 9-8.
The Aggies first game of the day would not be decided until the final two innings of the game as starting pitcher Mohagony Headen only gave up three hits in her complete game. Offensively the Aggies struggled, only producing one hit off the bat of Nathaly Pacheco in the contest. The Crusaders put up two in the sixth inning as Hannah Dybalski led off with a triple to right field. Sam Stewart reached base after being hit by a pitch and would steal second and advance to third on the throw, which scored Dybalski. Stewart would then score on the throw of a foul out to deep left field to give Valparaiso a 2-0 lead. The Crusaders scored the final run of the game on a leadoff home run to center field from Jorgi Calombaris to drop the Aggies to 3-4 on the season.
The Aggies would not let the first game get to them, however, as they came out swinging to open the game against Howard. N.C. A&T finished the game with 11 hits and seven RBI as all but one Aggie had a hit in the game. Stephanie Williams, Jillian Nobles and Zadasia Waddell each led the team with two hits, driving in a combined three RBI. Waddell pitched a complete game, allowing 10 hits and four earned runs while improving to 3-1 this season.
The Aggies took control of the game early, leading 7-0 after the first two innings. N.C. A&T put up six runs in the first as Raven Gray ledoff with a perfectly-placed bunt single before advancing to second on a passed ball. Gray would move to third on a ground out from Williams and scored on a botched fielder's choice, which allowed Pacheco to reach second base before stealing third.
With the score 1-0, a single from Nobles pushed Pacheco home for the 2-0 advantage. A follow-up double from Waddell was enough to score Nobles. Waddell reached second on a passed ball and Madisyn Rhone got on base thanks to a walk from pitcher Alex Flynn. In an inning already filled with stolen bases, Rhone added another as she reached second.
A walk to Alexandria Simmons and a fielder's choice allowing Kimberly Brunson to reach, loaded the bases with two outs as Waddell was thrown out at home. Even after a two-run RBI double from Alyssa Green gave the Aggies a 5-run inning, they were still not done. A passed ball would score Brunson from third as the Aggies moved back to the top of the lineup with Gray popping up to shortstop to close out the six-run inning.
In the second, Willaims led off with a single to center field, would advance on a sacrifice bunt from Pacheco and score on a single from Nobles to move ahead 7-0. Howard scored six unanswered runs before the Aggies scored again in the fifth, an inning of confusion for the Bison. Rhone was hit by the first pitch of the inning and advanced to second on a passed ball. A ground out from Simmons put the runner on third and she would score on another passed ball to move the score to 8-6.
Howard would not give up easily. The Bison would even the game up as the sun was setting in the sixth off two hits and an error, the Aggies would not let themselves fall after such a commanding start. In exciting fashion in the bottom of the seventh, Waddell was walked to first before being replaced by the speedy Zadia Davis who quickly stole second. While Rhone struck out swinging, a single from Simmons was all the room Davis needed to clinch the winning run.
In exciting fashion in the bottom of the seventh, Waddell was walked to first before being replaced by the speedy Zadia Davis who quickly stole second. While Rhone struck out swinging, a single from Simmons was all the room Davis needed to clinch the winning run.
Tournament play continues tomorrow for the Aggies as they face off against Valparaiso at 3 p.m.
