RALEIGH, NC – North Carolina A&T participated in a home run derby at North Carolina State's Dail Stadium on Wednesday. But unfortunately, the Aggies lost the home run derby and the game to the N.C. State Wolfpack. The two teams combined to hit six home runs, with the Aggies hitting two of those homers in an 8-2 loss in non-conference softball action.
Shortstop Makayla Layton and catcher Jocelyn Bennett hit solo home runs for A&T, who dropped to 6-22 overall. Three of the Wolfpack's four home runs were solo shots as the Pack improved to 12-20.
Amanda Hasler started the scoring for the Pack with a two-run RBI double in the first. Then, in the second inning, Rebecca Murray hit the first of the six home runs with a solo homer to left center field. A&T starter Joey Barkhimer got strong in the circle from there.
Barkhimer retired the next 10 batters she faced, not giving up a hit or allowing a Packer to reach until the fifth inning when Hasler reached on an infield single. In the meantime, Layton launched her first career home run that cleared the center field fence in the visitors' fifth to cut NCSU's lead to 3-1.
But the Pack broke the game open in the home sixth. Barkhimer gave up a lead-off homer to Hannah Goodwin in the frame and then surrendered a one-out home run to Taylor Ensley as the Pack took a 5-1 lead. Sharla Kirkpatrick replaced Barkhimer and gave up a double to Haley Haslip.
Kirkpatrick did get Ellie Goins to ground out for the second out in the inning, but she did advance pinch runner Nadia Sykes to third. Murray then reached on an infield single to score Sykes. Maykala Marbury followed by hitting another NCSU homer, a two-run blast down the left field line for an 8-1 lead.
Bennett hit her home run to open the Aggies seventh. But NCSU reliever Rylee Wyman retired the next three Aggies to earn the win. Wolfpack starter Aisha Weixlmann (W, 4-7) pitched five innings, striking out seven. Barkhimer (L, 1-6) had two strikeouts in the loss.
Hasler, Murray and Marbury had two RBI apiece for NCSU. The Aggies open a three-game Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) series against Hofstra with a Saturday noon doubleheader.
