WILMINGTON, NC – The North Carolina A&T softball team stopped the UNC Wilmington Seahawks from implementing the 8-run mercy rule after five innings with an explosive fifth inning but could not complete the rally in a 9-5 loss to the Seahawks Sunday morning at Boseman Field.  

A&T lost its fifth straight and fell to 6-21 overall and 1-5 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play. UNCW completed the sweep of A&T to improve to 12-17 overall and 6-3 in league play. 

The Seahawks carried an 8-0 lead into the visitor's fifth. A&T needed one run in the inning to prevent the Seahawks from winning the game in five innings. The Aggies scored four times, taking advantage of UNCW relief pitcher Carrigan Ewers. 

Left fielder Katriel Williams led off the frame with a single up the middle. After second baseman Alyxx Estrada flew out to right field, Williams advanced to second an error, and catcher Sierra Baldwin reached on a fielder's choice. A&T loaded the bases when third baseman Dezianna Patmon reached on an error. 

Ewers then hit center fielder Jai Deese with a 1-2 pitch to force home Williams to give the Aggies the run they needed to further the game. Designated player Jocelyn Bennett then delivered a two-run RBI single through the right side to score Patmon and Baldwin to cut UNCW's lead to 8-3. 

First baseman Joey Barkhimer made the second out of the inning on a pop-up to shortstop. Another UNCW error on a ground ball hit by shortstop Makayla Layton allowed Deese to score, putting the Aggies down four. The inning ended when Kiara Richards fouled out. 

UNCW added a run in the fifth before both teams were retired in order in the sixth inning. A run did come across the plate for the Aggies in the seventh inning. Two more Seahawk errors allowed Patmon and Bennett to reach before Barkhimer fouled out for the second out of the inning. 

But Layton kept the game alive with an RBI double that scored Patmon to cut UNCW's lead to four. But the game ended on a groundout off the bat of Megan Ellis. Ewers (W,1-0) pitched one scoreless inning for the Seahawks after Janel Gamache got the start. 

Ellis (L, 3-1) pitched five innings, giving up three earned runs and six hits while striking out one. Bennett's two RBI led the Aggies. Elizabeth Winstead and Morgan Britt went 2-for-4 for UNCW. A&T will travel to Raleigh to face North Carolina State on Wednesday, March 29, at 5 p.m.