EAST GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T softball dropped the first game of a doubleheader against Savannah State 3-1 Saturday at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex before bouncing back with an 8-1 win in Game 2.
In Game 2, sophomore Hailee Cutts went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, while freshman Eternal Fuller went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Sophomore catcher Samantha Ramirez recorded two RBI, while senior Zadaisha Waddell went for a complete game giving up one unearned run on five hits with six strikeouts.
N.C. A&T quickly jumped on the Tigers by scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning after Fuller scored on a wild pitch and Ramirez hit a two-run single to right field to drive home Cutts and Waddell for a 3-0 lead.
The Aggies scored another run in the third inning for a 4-0 lead after third baseman Vivica Boyd singled to center field to drive home pinch-runner Tivonia Cole.
They scored two more runs in the fourth inning after Fuller singled through the left side to drive home senior Mohagony Headen and right fielder Zadia Davis scored on a wild pitch as the Aggies increased their lead to 6-0.
Savannah State (5-19, 1-4 MEAC) got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning after Cortni Jones grounded out to first base to drive home Stacie Smith who reached on a single, stole second and reached third on a passed ball.
The Aggies (7-17, 4-1 MEAC) scored the final two runs of the game in the bottom half of the inning after Waddell doubled to center field to drive home Fuller. Cutts singled home sophomore Marcey Jiles for an 8-1 lead.
Savannah State had opportunities early in the game to score in the first and second innings by leaving two runners on base in each of those innings including runners on second and third in the first.
The Tigers were led by Smith going 2-for-2 with a run scored and Jones recorded the only RBI. Tanisha Williams (3-7) recorded the loss giving up six runs on seven hits in 3.0 innings. Waddell (4-4) got the win after pitching a complete game with six strikeouts.
In the first game, the Aggies bats struggled to get going with only one hit through the first five innings. Fuller, Cutts, Waddell, Smith and catcher Nikki Varela each recorded a hit, while Smith recorded the only RBI. Headen (1-10) went the distance giving up three runs on six hits with five strikeouts.
Savannah State broke a scoreless tie in the second after Kameryn Baker's RBI double, but in the bottom half of the inning, Smith hit a solo home run to left field to tie the game at 1. However, the Tigers scored the winning run in the third inning after Jones hit an RBI triple to left field for a 2-1 lead but was stranded on third after a fly out to center.
Savannah State scored an insurance run in the fourth inning after Baker scored on an Aggie error, but SSU left the bases loaded to minimize the damage for a 3-1 lead.
The Aggies only recorded one hit through the first five innings but recorded two hits in the sixth and in the seventh innings, but they did not score.
The Tigers were led by Baker going 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, while Jones added the other RBI.
The Aggies look to win the series Sunday at noon at the Lady Aggie Softball Complex.
