RADFORD, Va. – North Carolina A&T ran into some tough pitching on Friday as the Radford Highlanders defeated the Aggies 6-1 in Big South Conference softball play at RU Softball Stadium.
Jessie Marvin pitched a one-hitter for the Highlanders, who improved to 17-27 overall and 10-15 in the Big South. A&T is 13-33 and 3-19. A&T freshman pitcher Joey Barkhimer had a strong outing in relief, surrendering three runs and five hits while striking out one over five innings pitched.
In the first, the Highlanders got their first three runs off junior starter Kayla Douglas. Cassi Barbato got Radford on the board with a one-out, two-run RBI single up the middle on a 3-1 pitch. The big blow, however, came in the second when Cori McMillan hit a three-run to center field. One of the runs was charged to Douglas.
Radford scored its final run of the game in the fifth after Rachel Smith hit a home run to right center for a 6-0 Radford advantage.
In the seventh, A&T did get on the board as they broke up Marvin's no-hitter. The inning started with freshman Dezianna Patmon lining out to right. Marvin did give up one of her three walks on the day to sophomore Alyxx Estrad next. But sophomore Kiara Richards grounded out to shortstop, putting Marvin one out away from the no-hitter.
However, Estrada did advance to second on the groundout, setting up senior Jocelyn Bennett's RBI double to right that broke up the no-no and the shutout simultaneously. A groundout by Barkhimer ended the game.
Before the seventh inning, A&T had opportunities to score. In the second inning, Estrada started the inning with a walk. Richards laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Estrada to second. Then, a groundout back to the pitcher by Bennett advanced Estrada to third. But a pop-out to the shortstop by Barkhimer ended the threat.
In the sixth, sophomore Kayla Taylor opened the frame with a walk. An Eternal Fuller sac bunt moved Taylor to second but fly out by graduate Jazzmaine Hammond and a groundout to third by freshman Mariah Headen stranded Taylor at second.
The teams will play the next two games in the series in a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Sunday.
