ORANGEBURG, S.C. – North Carolina A&T extended its season-long winning streak to four games after sweeping Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opponent South Carolina State 4-1 and 11-3 on Sunday.
Senior designated player Samantha Ramirez went 6-for-8 with four runs scored and three RBI in two games. Freshman shortstop Alyxx Estrada batted 4-for-8 with three runs scored and four RBI.
In the first game, junior second baseman Stephanie Williams went 3-for-3 with three RBI. Estrada went 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Ramirez went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Junior center fielder Eternal Fuller went 2-for-3.
In the circle, freshman S'Nyiah Stinson (2-5) pitched a complete game giving up one run on three hits with two strikeouts.
The Aggies scored two runs in the visitor's first inning. Estrada hit a one-out triple to center field and scored after Ramirez reached on a fielding error. Williams then hit a two-out, RBI double to score Ramirez before a strikeout ended the first-inning threat.
N.C. A&T scored another run in the third inning after Williams singled up the middle to drive home Ramirez, who started the inning with a single to center fielder for a 3-0 lead.
Stinson lost her no-hitter and the shutout in the sixth inning as the Bulldogs Kyla Reeves tripled to center field with two outs, and Miranda Gonzalez singled to left field to cut the lead to 3-1.
The Aggies scored the final run in the seventh inning after Williams doubled to left field to drive home freshman left fielder Kendall Macauley, who reached on a single and advanced to second base.
In the second game, Ramirez went 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Estrada went 2-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore right fielder Jai Deese went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Macauley recorded three RBI, and junior first baseman Vivica Boyd went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
In the circle, freshman Kiara Richards (2-5) pitched a complete game giving up three runs on seven hits.
The Aggies (4-16, 4-0 MEAC) scored a run in the first inning as Deese started the game with a single, and Ramirez followed with a one-out single to left to put runners at first and third. Deese scored on a fielding error that allowed Macauley to reach and Ramirez to advance to second. A two-out single by Boyd loaded the bases, but the threat halted with a pop out to third.
SCSU took the lead in the second with three runs off an RBI single from Jade Hendricks and Gonzalez, and an RBI sac fly from Kyla Reeves.
The Aggies cut the lead in the third inning to 3-2 after Williams hit an RBI groundout to drive home Latianna Langley, who pinch ran for Ramirez. Ramirez started the inning with a double to left field.
N.C. A&T took the lead for good in the fourth inning after scoring four runs. Senior third baseman Alyssa Smith started the inning with a walk, followed by Fuller's bunt single. Estrada then hit a one-out triple to center field to drive home Fuller and Smith to take a 4-3 lead.
Ramirez doubled to center field to drive home Estrada. Ramirez advanced to third base on a passed ball and scored on an error that allowed Macauley to reach as the Aggies took a 6-3 lead. Macauley reached third on two stolen bases, but the inning ended with two consecutive putouts.
The Aggies scored the final five runs of the game in the fifth inning. With Smith and Fuller on first and second thanks to walks, Deese singled to load the bases, and Estrada delivered with a two-run RBI double to center to drive home Smith and Fuller.
Deese scored on an RBI single from Ramirez as Ramirez advanced to second on the throw home. A Macauley groundout scored Estrada as Ramirez went to third. Ramirez eventually scored on a Boyd RBI single to give the Aggies an 11-3 advantage.
The Aggies return home for a four-game series against Florida A&M for a Saturday and Sunday doubleheader. Saturday's doubleheader starts at noon, and Sunday's twin bill starts at 11 a.m.
