JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (February 26, 2017) – The North Carolina A&T softball team concluded the Jacksonville Tournament with a 6-5 loss to Akron before losing to Jacksonville 15-4 in five innings to finish the tournament 0-4.
The Aggies (5-10) had a competitive performance against the Zips in the morning matchup, scoring five runs on nine hits. Jillian Nobles put up two hits with an RBI while Zadasia Waddell also produced two hits, leading to two RBI.
Freshman Stephanie Williams led off the game with a single up the middle and moved to second on a walk to Lauren Dunlow. A ground out to third base from Alexandria Simmons advanced the runners. With one out on the board, Nobles loaded the bases on a bunt single to third. A Nathaly Pacheco fielder's choice allowed her to reach first but Williams was forced out heading home. A Waddell was still able to deliver with a single up the middle to score Dunlow and Nobles to put the Aggies on top 2-0.
The Zips matched the Aggies scoring in the bottom of the first, N.C. A&T regained the lead with a run in the top of the third inning thanks to a massive home run to left field off the bat of Nobles. The Aggies moved ahead 5-2 after the top of the fifth off a two-run homer from Simmons. The stage was set for the final inning as Akron added a homer of its own in the fifth off the bat of Savannah Fruin.
Despite a two-run lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Aggies were unable to hold on as Akron added four hits and three runs to close out the game. After two leadoff singles, Mohagony Headen came in to relieve Waddell in the circle, but another single helped the Zips narrow the score to 5-4. Finally, a deep single to right center from Anna Tarpley with two outs on the board gave Akron all they needed to secure the 6-5 win.
Things did not start off well for the Aggies in their second game of the day against tournament hosts Jacksonville as the Dolphins came away with two grand slams in the first inning alone. Jacksonville scored 11 runs on three hits and an error with all three hits leaving the park as Headen was replaced halfway through the inning by Taylor Martin, but Martin gave up a home run as the Dolphins took a 5-0 lead. Waddell also entered the circle in the first, but a fielder's choice loaded the bases and a second grand slam followed to put the score at 11-0.
The Aggie offense did produce in the final three innings of the game as Williams and Dunlow both singled in the third and Williams crossed home on an error at shortstop. In the fourth, Kimberly Brunson reached second on an error moved to third on a groundout to third from Talisha Jenkins. The run scored on an Alyssa Green double to left field with the Aggies now trailing 11-2.
An RBI by Pacheco and a home run from Brunson closed out the Aggies scoring for the game. N.C. A&T returns to action 3 p.m., Wednesday as they play host to UNC Wilmington at the Aggie Softball Complex.
