STATESBORO, Ga. – North Carolina A&T closed out the GATA Challenge hosted by the Georgia Southern University softball program on Sunday at Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex. The Aggies lost to host GSU 4-0 as they received another solid pitching performance from Joey Barkhimer. Despite getting the loss, Barkhimer went 4 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits. 

Amaya Kearse pitched the final 1 1/3 for the Aggies and did not give up a run while walking and striking out one. But the Aggies were two-hit, even though Deanna Patmon had a double. 

The Eagles took an early 1-0 lead in the home second before extending their lead as Janai Conklin opened the frame with a double to left field before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Courtney Ball singled to score Conklin for a 2-0 lead. 

The Aggies had a chance to score in their fourth, as Megan Ellis walked with two outs. Latianna Langley pinch ran for Ellis and moved to second on Jai Deese's bunt single. However, when Langley tried to reach third, she was tagged out by third baseman Olivia Creamer. The Eagles added two runs in the fifth on a two-run RBI double from Ball. 

The Aggies tried to rally in the sixth. A Patmon double followed a one-out walk to Alyxx Estrada to put runners on second and third. Katriel Williams hit a hard liner to third, but Creamer snagged it for the second out. Ellis got caught looking to end the threat. The Aggies put up little of a threat in the seventh. 

Alana Barnard got the win in the circle for the Eagles. A&T is 2-11 overall after going 1-4 in the GATA Challenge. Sierra Baldwin led the Aggies by going 4-for-13 (.308). The Aggies head to Columbia, S.C., this weekend to participate in the University of South Carolina tournament at Carolina Softball Stadium. They open play at noon Friday against the University of Illinois.