GREENSBORO (April 18, 2018) – North Carolina A&T softball returned to action after 10 days and lost both games of a doubleheader to Western Carolina, 10-5 and 14-6, at Lady Aggies Softball Complex Wednesday afternoon. Despite the losses, the Aggies (7-29) seemed to have found their offensive rhythm during their break from competition.
In Game 1, junior Zadaisha Waddell went 4-for-4 with four RBI. Junior Zadia Davis and senior Talisha Jenkins both had 2-for-4 outings in Game 1. Both players also scored twice. The Catamounts (14-26) were also impressive offensively. They had 14 hits and broke the game open with big innings in the fifth and sixth.
The Catamounts also used their offense to jump out to a 3-1 lead but the Aggies rallied in the third. Davis opened the inning with an infield single followed by a single from Jenkins to put runners on first and second. A sacrifice bunt from Samantha Ramirez moved the runners to second and third for Waddell who hit a two-run single to left field to tie the game at 3.
The game remained tied until the Catamount fifth when Ashlyn Long earned an RBI single to left to score Erica Hayes who reached on a single. Madison Armstrong gave the Catamounts a 6-3 with a two-run RBI single.
Western Carolina added four runs in the sixth to take a 10-3 advantage. N.C. A&T did score two runs in the seventh as Davis and Jenkins set the table again like they did in third with back-to-back singles. Ramirez moved the runners to second and third again for Waddell who hit another two-run single to cut WCU's lead to five.
Freshman starter Bayleigh Kirby (0-5) took the loss for the Aggies in the circle after going 4.1 innings and striking out three. Haley Brogden (4-3) got the win after pitching a complete game.
Another freshman started Game 2 for the Aggies as Hailee Cutts stepped into the circle. She had a rough first inning as the Catamounts posted seven runs as the Aggies turned to Kirby again after a third of an inning.
N.C. A&T was not threatened by the early 7-0 deficit as the scored at least one run in each of their first three innings. Sophomore Stephanie Williams opened the Aggies first with a double to center field Waddell brought her home with a single to cut WCU's lead to 7-1. In the second, junior Mohagony Headen hit a solo home run to move the Aggies even closer.
But while the Aggies comeback, the Catamounts put together a huge third inning thanks to a grand slam home run by Armstrong. Armstrong's homer aided to a six-run third as the Aggies walked three in the inning and had an error. Kailey McNeil also had a solo home run in the inning as WCU took a 13-2 lead.
The Aggies fired back as Ramirez hit a one-out double to center in the third inning. Waddell got another hit with a single up the middle to put runners at first and third for redshirt freshman Marcey Jiles who belted her first career home run with a shot to left to make it a 13-5 ballgame. Williams hit her second home run of the season in the fourth for the Aggies final run of the game.
Cutts (0-9) took the loss while Kinsey Liscio (4-7) got the victory. Waddell followed up her superb Game 1 performance by going 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Williams was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.
N.C. A&T hits the road for the weekend as they travel to Savannah, Ga., to face the Savannah State Tigers in a three-game series. The series will start with 1 p.m., doubleheader on Saturday before a single game on Sunday at noon.
