CHARLOTTE, N.C. – North Carolina A&T dropped both games Saturday at the First Pitch Classic hosted by the University of North Carolina Charlotte at Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium with an 8-3 loss to Morehead State and a 7-2 loss to Rhode Island.
Freshman Latianna Langely finished the day 2-for-3. Sophomore
Eternal Fuller was a combined 4-for-8 with a run scored and
Vivica Boyd went a combined 3-for-6 with a run scored.
In the first game against Morehead State (1-1), Fuller went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Boyd went 2-for-3 with a run scored. In the circle, pitcher
Hailee Cutts (0-1) gave up four earned runs in three innings to earn the loss.
The Aggies scored first by putting up a run in their first. Fuller started the inning with a single through the right side. Second baseman
Stephanie Williams drove her home with a double to left field.
N.C. A&T increased their lead to 3-0 after scoring two runs in the second inning. After a groundout to shortstop, Boyd earned an infield single. With two outs, sophomore
Alisa Maldonado was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Fuller then doubled to right center field to drive home Boyd and Maldonado.
Morehead State tied the game at 3 in the third inning after an RBI single and a two-run single. The Eagles took their first lead of the game after a two-run fourth inning gave them a 5-3 lead.
MSU scored another two runs in the fifth inning for a 7-3 lead after an RBI double and a wild pitch. Morehead State scored the final run in the sixth inning after a walk forced in a run for the five-run lead.
The Eagles were led by Maddie Kawall going 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI, In the circle, Kelsey Perkins (1-0) went the distance giving up three runs on six hits for the win.
In the second game, sophomore left fielder
Tivonia Cole and Langely each went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Fuller and junior right fielder
Samantha Ramirez both were 2-for-4. Ramirez and Williams each recorded an RBI.
Douglas picked up the loss (0-1) in the circle going the distance giving up five earned runs on six hits.
Rhode Island (3-4) scored the first two runs in the top of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead after two errors allowed two runs to score. They Rams recorded three runs in the second inning for a 5-0 lead after a three-run home run to left field.
The Rams scored the next two runs in the sixth inning after an error allowed a run to score and a line drive allowed another run to score.
The Aggies scored two runs in the seventh inning as Cole singled to right field followed by Langely's single through the right side to put runners on first and second with no outs. After a groundout to second base advanced the runners to second and third with one out, Williams grounded out to third base to drive home Cole to cut the lead to 7-1.
Ramirez doubled to left field to drive home Langely, but a groundout to second base ended the game.
The Rams were led by Cassie Swenson who went 2-for-3, Sarah Gunderson (3-0) picked up the win by pitching 5.0 shutout innings.
The Aggies finish the tournament with the same two teams on Sunday. They play Rhode Island at 9 a.m., and Morehead State at 11:30 a.m.
