EAST GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T won both games played at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex on Friday with a 3-2 nine-inning win over Fairleigh Dickinson early in the day and a 9-3 win in Game 2.
The Aggies improved to 4-3 on the season. Fairleigh Dickinson lost its first two games of the season.
"I'll take a win any day," head coach Patti Raduenz said. "Even on one of their worst days, they find a way to come through at the end of the game. It still looks the same on the left side of the column. I love their heart and their dedication to find a way to come through and win."
The Aggies and the Knights went into extra innings in the first game tied at 1. The Aggies left runners stranded on second and third in the seventh and eighth innings. The Knights took advantage of the stranded runners in the ninth as Andreya Flores hit an RBI double to score pinch runner Sydney Newton to give FDU a 2-1 lead.
However, A&T had no problem with leaving runners on base in the ninth. Senior Jocelyn Bennett and junior Latianna Langley were hit by pitch. Senior Eternal Fuller then drew a walk to load the bases. One batter later, Alyxx Estrada grounded out to shortstop to score senior pinch runner Vivica Boyd to tie the game at 2.
Icess Tresvik then delivered the Aggies third walk-off win of the young season with a two-out infield single to score Langley for the win.
S'Nyiah Stinson (1-1) got the win for the Aggies in the circle as she pitched a complete-game two-hitter while striking out eight and walking six. Payton Wagner (0-1) got the loss. In addition to hitting the game-winner, Tresvik had a 2-for-5 ballgame.
"I was trying to hit it hard on the ground somewhere," Tresvik said. "Our energy was up, and we carried that energy in the second game."
In Game 2, the Aggies took a 7-1 lead over the first three innings behind a two-run home run over the center-field fence by Bennett and a two-run single by Estrada.
Tresvik delivered the crippling blow to the Knights with a two-run home run that also cleared the center-field fence as the Aggies took a 9-2 lead in the fifth.
Estrada had a big Game 2 by going 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Freshman Mariah Headen scored twice.
Freshman Joey Barkhimer got his first collegiate win in the circle by pitching a complete game with nine strikeouts. Aggies pitching has recorded 58 strikeouts in seven games this season. Malori Bell (0-1) got the loss as the Aggies chased her after 2 1/3 innings pitched.
The Aggies play two games Saturday. They play George Mason at noon and FDU at 2:30 p.m.
