GREENSBORO (April 21, 2017) – Raven Gray's numbers do not look like normal Raven Gray numbers. But on Friday, she reminded everyone why she was a preseason All-MEAC selection. Gray rocketed a walk-off grand slam over the Lady Aggies Softball Complex fences on Friday to the Aggies a key 10-9 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win over Savannah State.
The Aggies (12-26-1, 5-6 MEAC) went into the bottom of the seventh trailing 9-4. With one out and a runner on first, SSU pitcher Amanda McDowell walked sophomore Zadaisha Waddell. Waddell was replaced on the base paths by Madisyn Rhone. Nathaly Pacheco brought the Aggies to within four runs with an RBI single to left field to score senior Kimberly Brunson who reached on a fielder's choice. Rhone moved to third on the play, leading to Mohagony Headen's RBI single to left field to score Rhone to cut the Tigers (1-30, 1-9 MEAC) lead to 9-6.
With runners on first and second, junior Talisha Jenkins popped up to second for the second out in the inning. Sophomore Zadia Davis kept the Aggies alive, however, with an infield single to load the bases. It brought Gray to the plate for her game-winning blast that gave the Aggies their first and only lead of the game. It was Gray's first homer of the season and the sixth of her career.
Headen (5-14) got the win in relief after replacing starter Waddell in the top of the seventh. McDowell (1-15) took the loss despite the Tigers building an early lead. The Tigers had a 3-0 lead after the first inning before the Aggies scored twice in their half of the first. Brunson scored Gray on an RBI single and Waddell hit into a fielder's choice to score Alexandria Simmons.
Yet, the Tigers offense kept surging. A run in the second and three more runs in the fourth gave the Tigers a 7-2 lead. The lead grew to 9-2 in the fifth as a two-base error allowed Drea Lesure to reach second. Brianna Harris earned an infield single to put runners at first and third. On a steal attempt by Harris, an error was committed allowing Lesure to score. One out later, Cortni Jones hit an RBI single to left to score Harris for a 9-2 SSU lead.
Not deterred, N.C. A&T ended the game with eight unanswered runs starting in the sixth when Gray's RBI sacrifice fly scored Headen. Talisha Jenkins, who was on third, then scored to cut the Tigers lead to 9-4 on a throw to second to throw out Davis at second on a base-stealing attempt. The sixth setup the Aggies' six-run seventh inning.
Brunson led the Aggies by going 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Davis also had two hits and Gray finished with five RBI and two runs scored.
The two teams will play a Saturday doubleheader at the Aggie Softball Complex starting at 11 a.m.
