ORANGEBURG, S.C. (March 25, 2017) – North Carolina A&T softball fought through two hard games against South Carolina State to open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play on Saturday in a doubleheader at Lady Bulldog Softball Field.
Unfortunately, SCSU was able to grab two victories as they defeated the Aggies 6-3 and 5-4.
Nathaly Pacheco led the way at the plate for the Aggies in the second game of the day, putting away two hits and two RBI. Kimberly Brunson also had two hits in the game to follow up her 2-for-4 performance in Game 1. From the circle, Mohagony Headen pitched a complete game to start the series, allowing eight hits, striking out four and allowing three walks. In Game 2, Zadashia Waddell threw for four innings allowing eight hits and five runs before Headen came in as a reliever to close out the final two innings, allowing one hit.
N.C. A&T got on the board first in Game 1 after Raven Gray walked and stole second before advancing to third on a groundout from Brunson. A single from Jillian Nobles would put the Aggies up 1-0, but the Bulldogs would respond in a big way in the bottom of the inning. After a popup to short stop, the next three S.C. State batters would load the bases. Kaneisha Pettiford doubled to right field, which was enough to clear the bases for the Bulldogs with a 3-1 lead. The Aggies would tack on one more in the second as Stephanie Williams rounded the bases and eventually reached home on an illegal pitch from Megan Prunty.
The Aggies found themselves tied 3-3 after three and a half innings of play as Headen started off the hitting with a single up the middle. Talisha Jenkins followed up with a single of her own, but was thrown out trying to reach second. With two outs on the board and a runner on second, Alyssa Green singled, allowing Headen to reach home. However, S.C State responded with a run in each of the next three innings to grab a 6-3 win over the Aggies.
In Game 2, N.C. A&T moved to a 4-0 lead after three and a half innings as they scored three runs in the third and one in the fourth. Nobles started off the third reaching on an error at third base before Gray singled up the middle. Waddell was walked to load the bases with only one out. A double from Pacheco would drive in two runs and a single from Zadia Davis would eventually score Waddell from third. In the fourth, Nobles would single and advance to second and would advance again on a ground out from Gray. A single from Green would help Nobles cross the plate before the Aggies returned to defense.
The Bulldogs tied up the game in the bottom of the fourth as an error put Tamaya McQueary on base and she would ultimately score S.C. States first run of the day on a double from Deanna Sullivan. Another double up the middle would score two more. Brunson made a key play from first to Pacheco behind the plate to throw out Quiana Hodge on her way home, but the Bulldogs would still score one more in the inning after a single from Unique Whitehurst. An error by Lauren Dunlow at second would eventually guide S.C. State to their fifth, and game-winning, run of the game in the fifth.
The Aggies will complete the series on Sunday with the game scheduled for 12 p.m.
