EAST GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T Aggies ended their opening softball weekend 2-3 overall after a 12-8 loss to Howard Sunday as freezing fell on the Lady Aggies Complex field throughout the game. 

Sophomore Alyxx Estrada batted 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Fellow sophomore Kendall Macauley went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored with a home run. Desttany Parker went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

After falling behind 1-0 after the Howard first inning, the Aggies took an early lead in their half of the first. The Aggies opened the inning with back-to-back extra base hits as graduate Jazzmaine Hammond started the rally with a triple, and Estrada followed with an RBI double to drive home Hammond to tie the game.

Macauley gave the Aggies the lead with an RBI single up the middle as Estrada scored. A walk to Parker and a wild pitch put runners on second and third for Aggies senior catcher Jocelyn Bennett. Bennett helped the Aggies extend their lead by grounding out to allow Macauley to score. Parker scored on a wild pitch to give the Aggies a 4-1 advantage. 

Howard responded with four runs in the second and five runs in the third to take a 10-4 lead. 

A&T came roaring back in the fourth by scoring three runs. First, junior Latianna Langley tripled to score freshman Mariah Headen who reached on a single. Then, senior Eternal Fuller singled through the left side to drive home Langley. After reaching on a fielder's choice, Hammond stole second to set up Estrada's RBI single up the middle to make it a 10-7 ballgame. 

But RBI singles from Luz Aguilasocho and Payton Quinonez in the Howard sixth gave the Bison a cushion at 12-7. 

Macauley did add a run for A&T in the seventh, her first of the season, and the second in her career. But it was not enough as pitcher Sydney Hixenbuagh (1-0) got the win for the Bison. Junior Kayla Douglas (0-1) got the loss. Luz Aguilasocho led Howard by going 4-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.