RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina A&T softball fell to Lehigh 13-1 in six innings to begin the NC State Invitational Friday.

Sophomore center fielder Eternal Fuller, junior designated hitter Hailee Cutts, sophomore catcher Nikki Varela, sophomore left fielder Tivonia Cole each recorded a hit. Pinch hitter Jocelyn Bennett recorded the only RBI for the Aggies as pinch runner Cinsear Saunders scored the only run.

Freshman Kayla Douglas (1-5) picked up the loss giving up four runs in four hits. Freshman Kayla Brown, junior Bayleigh Kirby and Cutts combined to pitch six innings giving up two earned runs.

Lehigh scored four runs in the top of the first inning to take a 4-0 lead after two RBI singles, a sacrifice fly to score a run and an RBI fielder's choice.

The Mountain Hawks scored two runs in the second inning for a 6-0 lead after an error allowed a run to score and an RBI fielder's choice and scored another run in the fourth inning after an RBI single for a 7-0 lead.

Lehigh scored six runs in the sixth inning to take a 13-0 lead.

The bottom of the sixth inning started with a Cutts single up the middle as Saunders replaced on the base paths. Varela then singled to left field to put runners on the corners with no outs.

Varela stole second with one out and Cole walked to load the bases.  Bennett pinch hit for the RBI groundout for the second out and a strikeout swinging ended the inning and the game.

The Mountain Hawks were led by Emily Cimino going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored and Mary-Hannah Smith went 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.  Lainey Stephenson (1-0) picked up the win in a complete game giving up a run on five hits.

The Aggies (2-11) face Lehigh at 10 a.m. and N.C. State at 3 p.m. Saturday and finishes the tournament with No. 24 James Madison at 12:30 p.m. and N.C. State at 3 p.m.