EAST GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T dropped its final home softball game of 2022, 5-3, to Presbyterian Blue Hose Sunday afternoon at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex in Big South Conference action.
The Aggies (13-31, 3-18 Big South) celebrated Senior Day before the game, honoring Jocelyn Bennett, Eternal Fuller and Jazzmaine Hammond. To get the threesome a win on Senior Day, the Aggies face one of the Big South's top teams in Presbyterian (33-11, 18-6). A&T was up for the challenge, however.
The Blue Hose did jump out to a 2-0 lead, thanks partly to an RBI double from Jillian Hewes. Morgan Hess followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to score Lath Freeman from third for the inning's second run.
But the Aggies got a run back in the home first. Blue Hose starter Jenna Green hit Hammond with an 0-1 pitch. Hammond moved into scoring position by stealing second. Hammond then stole third as freshman Icess Tresvik struck out. An errant throw to third from the catcher position by Freeman allowed Hammond to score, cutting the Blue Hose's lead in half.
The Blue Hose scored two more runs in the third. Tweed started things with a home run to center field. A&T freshman starter Joey Barkhimer then walked Kaitlyn Tucker. Barkhimer retired the next two batters on a fly out and a strikeout before controversy entered the game.
Hess hit a two-out double to center. Tucker came racing home, but Bennett tagged her out for what appeared to be out No. 3. But the home plate home umpire made an obstruction call. It allowed Tucker to score, gave Hess an RBI double and increased Presbyterian's lead to 4-1.
A&T inched closer, however, over their next two at-bats. Hammond reached on a bunt single in the Aggie third and advanced to second on a throwing error. She then stole third with two outs before freshman Dezianna Patmon reached on a fielding error by Blue Hose third baseman Haleigh Joyner. The error scored Hammond to cut the Blue Hose lead to 4-2.
In the fourth, sophomore Kiara Richards reached first on a hit-by-pitch. A sac bunt from Bennett moved Richards to second as freshman Mariah Headen came to the plate. She doubled to left to drive home Richards as the Aggies moved to within one.
A&T attempted to tie the game as Headen stole third, and Fuller flew out to left, leading Headen to tag third and go home. However, Freeman blocked home plate as Headen slid into her leg and failed to touch home plate before the tag. The play helped Presbyterian maintain the lead.
Hess added needed run support with a solo homer in the fifth to give Presbyterian a 5-3 advantage. Presbyterian reliever Hailey Haselden retired the final eight Aggies she faced to earn her third save of the season.
Hammond went 1-for-1 with two runs scored in her final home game at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex. Headen went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Barkhimer (5-6) picked up the loss, pitching a complete game, giving up five runs on six hits with three strikeouts.
Patmon snapped her six-game hitting streak but extended her streak of reaching base safely to 10.
