GREENSBORO (February 18, 2017) – North Carolina A&T softball lost to Valparaiso 7-2 at Aggie Softball Complex on Saturday afternoon in the Aggie Invitational thanks to five Crusader home runs in the contest.
Five Aggies were able to come away with at least one hit in the game, with Alexandria Simmons getting an RBI on her double in the sixth inning, which scored Raven Gray. Senior Kimberly Brunson added a hit and a run scored, and was joined by Morgan Chisholm, Alyssa Green, Gray in producing hits.Taylor Martin started the game from the circle for the Aggies, but was replaced by Mohagony Headen after 3.1 inning, giving up six hits and four runs.
The game could have gotten out of hand quickly had it not been for Gray's talent at center field. A lead off single in the first inning from Carly Trepanier put a runner on first and Hannah Dybalski was walked. With one out on the board, back-to-back swings for the fences ended up in Gray's glove to get the Aggies out of the inning. The Aggies luck shifted, however, as the Crusaders hit a home run in the second, third and fourth innings to take a 4-0 lead.
N.C. A&T looked as though they could launch a comeback starting in the fifth as Brunson ledoff with a single to shortstop and advanced to second on a single from Chisholm. Brunson went to third on a throwing error by Jaymee Lawton at shortstop attempting to throw out Chisholm on her way to first. In an exciting play, Brunson reached home while Chisholm continued trying to round the bases, but was thrown out heading to third. Despite the crazy play, it still resulted in an Aggies run that put the Aggies down 4-1.
Gray started the home sixth on first after being hit by the pitch from Mackenzie Grossmann and added a stolen base to stand on second. Simmons came in to pinch hit for Zadia Davis and delivered with a double to left to score Gray for a 4-2 ballgame. However, the Crusaders would close out the game with a statement inning in the top of the seventh as Trepanier led off with a homer to right field and Dybalski would reach first on a single to left field. The fifth home run of the day came off the bat of Sam Stewart to drive in two more for the final 7-2 game.
The Aggies close out the Aggie Invitational on Sunday afternoon against UMBC at 3.
