EAST GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T softball fell to Winthrop 11-5 at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex, Wednesday.

The Aggies (1-6) gave up seven runs in the first inning and eventually found themselves down 11-0. But the Aggies scored the final five runs of the game.
 Junior Bayleigh Kirby started the game for the Aggies, but freshman Kayla Brown finished the game by pitching the final 6.2 innings giving up three earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts.
 
"That's what I love about them is that they will continue to fight," N.C. A&T coach Patti Raduenz said.  "They never think they are out of the game. The one thing that we are learning is to how to limit the big innings. Kayla came in and settled things down on the mound and didn't allow a lot of hits together." 

Junior designated player Hailee Cutts led team going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Sophomores Tivonia Cole and Desttany Parker each recorded two RBI. Kirby (0-3) did take the loss.   

After the Eagles (6-5) scored seven runs in the first, they scored two more in the third thanks to an RBI sacrifice fly and an RBI single. Winthrop added two runs in the fourth after an RBI single and an error to made it an 11-0 game.

N.C. A&T then started showing the fight. The Aggies scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning to cut the lead to 11-2. Sophomore left fielder Nikki Valera singled to right field and Cutts followed with a single through the right side to put runners on first and second with one out.

A groundout moved the runners to second and third to set up a two-out, two-run RBI single to center field from Parker that scored Valera and pinch runner Cinsear Saunders. N.C. A&T scored three more runs in the fifth inning.

Freshman Moriah Terry walked and junior second basemen Stephanie Williams singled to the shortstop.  Cole followed with a one-out triple to right field to drive home Terry and Williams to cut the lead to 11-4.

With two outs, Cutts singled to deep center field to drive home Cole to make it 11-5.

The Eagles were led by Sabrina Shroades going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Aisha Weixlmann (2-1) picked up the win pitching five shutout innings scattering one hit with five strikeouts.

The Aggies head to Charleston, S.C., for the Charleston Invitational this weekend.  N.C. A&T starts with Bradley Friday at 10 a.m. and Charleston Southern at 2:30 p.m. at Charleston Southern.  Saturday, the Aggies move to College of Charleston to face Appalachian State at 10 a.m. and Virginia Tech at 4:45 p.m. and finishes Sunday against Dartmouth at 9 a.m. at College of Charleston.