WILMINGTON, NC – The North Carolina A&T softball team lost both games of a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) doubleheader on Saturday. The UNC Wilmington Seahawks defeated the Aggies 8-0 in five innings in Game 1 and 7-3 in Game 2.
A&T has lost four in a row and dropped to 6-20 overall and 1-4 in CAA action. UNCW's Game 1 win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Seahawks as they ended the day 11-17 overall and 5-3 in conference play.
UNCW one-hit the Aggies in Game 1 before the Aggies had a better pitching effort over the first four innings of the second game. A&T took the lead in Game 2 before the Seahawks put together an enormous seven-run fifth inning that included a grand slam.
Right fielder Makayla Layton hit a one-out double to left, followed by a Latianna Langley walk. Katriel Williams, who had the Aggies lone hit in Game 1, then singled to right field. An error in right field allowed Layton to score to give the Aggies a 1-0 advantage.
Second baseman Alyxx Estrada then laid down a bunt. Langley tried to score on the play but was thrown out at home. The play advanced runners to second and third before catcher Sierra Baldwin popped out to first base to end the inning.
But two home runs in the home fifth told the game's story. Janel Gamache singled up the middle to open the frame and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Next, she went to third on a single from Mary Sobataka. Then, Mackenzie Amodeo hit a three-run homer to give the Seahawks a 3-1 lead. UNCW kept its rally going with three consecutive singles to load the bases.
After the first single, pitcher Megan Ellis entered the circle for Joey Barkhimer in an effort to slow the Seahawks momentum. But Arial Pearce hit an inside-the-park home run to clear the bases, giving UNCW a commanding 7-1 advantage.
A&T did add two runs in the seventh. Back-to-back singles by Estrada and Baldwin led to an RBI single from third baseman Dezianna Patmon. Center fielder Jai Deese then ripped an RBI double to left to score Baldwin, cutting UNCW's lead to 7-3. But the game ended when designated player Jocelyn Bennett flew out to right.
Deese led the Aggies with two hits, including her RBI double. Gamache went 2-for-3 with a run scored to lead the Seahawks. Emily Winstead (W, 2-3) pitched five innings, striking out six without surrendering an earned run. Barkhimer (L, 1-5) went 4 1/3 innings and gave up four runs.
Sharla Kirkpatrick (L, 0-3) pitched three innings for the Aggies in the first game and gave up five runs, none of them earned. Kara Hammock (W, 6-4) pitched all five innings for the Seahawks, striking out nine without walking a batter. The Aggies avoided the no-hitter with Williams' single in the fifth inning.
Sobataka led the Seahawks in Game 1 by going 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. The two teams conclude the series at 10 a.m. Sunday to avoid inclement weather.
