CHARLESTON, S.C. – North Carolina A&T rallied to beat Appalachian State 7-5 Saturday afternoon during the second day of the Charleston Invitational at Patriots Point.
The Aggies later lost to No. 24 Virginia Tech 16-0. The Aggies (2-9) win on Saturday came after they trailed 5-0 to the Mountaineers (8-5).
Appalachian State broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the first inning after an RBI single for 1-0 lead and extended the lead to 5-0 after two RBI singles and two-run throwing error.
The Aggies started their comeback in the fourth inning. Sophomore catcher Nikki Valera started with a single to right center and sophomore first basemen
Vivica Boyd singled to right center to put runners on first and second with no outs.
A groundout advanced the runners to second and third with one out and sophomore third baseman
Desttany Parker singled to right field to drive home Valera and advance Boyd to third. A groundout and a foul out to the catcher ended the inning.
The Aggies scored four runs in the fifth. The frame started with a groundout and a fly out, but junior designated player
Hailee Cutts doubled to left center. Sophomore
Cinsear Saunders pinch ran for Cutts and advance to third on a passed ball.
Varela singled up the middle to score Saunders to cut the lead to 5-2. Boyd walked to advance Varela to second forcing a pitching change.
Left fielder
Tivonia Cole singled to left field and advanced to second on the throw as Valera scored and Boyd advance to third. Parker singled to right field to drive home Boyd and advance Cole to third. Parker advance to second on a wild pitch as Cole scored to tie the game at 5. Parker was eventually thrown out at home for the final out.
App State had the opportunity to take the lead in the sixth inning as a runner advance to third, but a strikeout ended the inning to keep the game tied at 5.
Junior second basemen
Stephanie Williams started the Aggies seventh with a walk followed by an infield single by Cutts as Williams advanced to third. Varela delivered the game-winning RBI with a single to center field to score Williams to give the Aggies a 6-5 lead. Freshman pinch runner
Latyya McIntyre advanced to third.
Boyd was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Cole reached on a fielder's choice as McIntyre was thrown out at home for the first out of the inning. Parker grounded out to first base to drive home Valera and advance Boyd to third and Cole to second. A strikeout ended the inning.
The bottom half of the inning, the Aggies recorded the first two outs of the inning but a double to left center field kept App State alive. A lineout to third base ended the game.
Varela led the Aggies going 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and two RBI. Parker went 2-for-4 with three RBI and Cutts and Cole each went 2-for-4 at the plate.
In the circle, freshman
Kayla Douglas (2-1) went the distance giving up five runs, three earned on seven hits with four strikeouts.
In the second game, Virginia Tech scored 12 of the 16 runs in the third inning. Valera recorded a walk in the game and Brown (2-2) picked up the loss pitching 2.0 innings giving up eight runs on six hits.
The Aggies finish the tournament against Dartmouth at 9 a.m. Sunday.
