HAMPTON, Va. – Freshman Sharla Kirkpatrick (W, 3-4) pitched her first career complete-game shutout, and the North Carolina A&T softball team gave her all the runs she needed in the first inning as the Aggies took two out of three from the Hampton Pirates with a 4-0 win at HU Softball Stadium on Sunday.
The win clinches a tournament spot in the 2023 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Softball Championship Tournament for A&T. The Aggies have won five of their last six, improving to 17-30 overall and 10-11 in CAA play. The Aggies are the seventh team to clinch a spot in the tournament, scheduled for May 9-13 at Bill Edwards Stadium in Hempstead, NY.
The Aggies are in thanks to winning four of the seven three-game CAA series they have played thus far this season. Only eight teams qualify for the tournament, leaving only one spot available. That team will likely not be Hampton, as they fell to 15-28 overall and 4-16 in league play. Sunday's play started early at 10 a.m. to avoid inclement weather in the Tidewater area.
The Aggies offense also got going early in their quest to clinch a spot in the postseason. Second baseman Alyxx Estrada, who went 2-for-3 with two runs on Sunday, led the game with a four-pitch walk from Hampton starter Carmynn Bonner. A&T's top slugger Jai Deese followed with an RBI double to left field as Estrada scored. Deese recorded her team-leading 26th RBI. First baseman Kiara Richards brought Deese home with a one-out RBI single up the middle to give the Aggies a 2-0 advantage.
Richards moved to second base on a throwing error from Hampton center fielder Kayla Domon. Left fielder Katriel Williams took advantage of the extra base the error allowed as she singled down the left field to bring home Richards for a 3-0 lead. A&T had a chance to add more. After designated player Megan Ellis reached on a fielder's choice that eliminated Williams from the base paths, shortstop Makayla Layton doubled to put Aggies at third and second.
But catcher Sierra Baldwin flew out to center to end the threat. Kirkpatrick took over from there. She did not allow a hit until the fourth inning when Pirates shortstop Nicol Ley hit a one-out single up the middle. Kirkpatrick quickly recovered to strike out Domon before Bonner singled to put Pirates on first and second. But Hampton's rally ended when first baseman Janae Lyles flew out to center.
Hampton put another runner in scoring position in the fifth when second baseman Nekia Aiken doubled with one out. But Kirkpatrick retired the next two Pirates to get out of the fifth. In the sixth, Kirkpatrick gave up a leadoff single, but a double play and a Domon groundout moved the game to the seventh inning.
The Aggies added one more run for good measure for Kirkpatrick. Estrada hit a one-out double, but Deese followed by flying out to left. But the Aggies kept the scoring threat going when third baseman Dezianna Patmon walked on a 3-2 pitch. Estrada then took off for third base, stealing it successfully. On the play, Aiken made a throwing error from second base, allowing Estrada to score her team-leading 28th run. The run gave the Aggies a four-run lead going into the seventh.
Kirkpatrick entered the circle for the complete game but surrendered a leadoff single to Bonner before Lyles reached on an error to put two runners on with no outs. But another Aggies double play eliminated the batter Emily Kepple and Bonner from the base paths. Finally, Aiken grounded out to end the game, giving Kirkpatrick her second complete-game win of the season.
It was Kirkpatrick's third overall complete game, as her five-hit shutout included three strikeouts. She threw only 72 pitches, including 48 strikes. Williams had a terrific series, going 2-for-3 with an RBI on Sunday and 6-for-10 with three RBI and three runs scored in the series. Bonner led the Pirates with two hits.
The Aggies close out the regular season at home with a three-game series at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex against the Elon Phoenix, starting with a 3 p.m. doubleheader on Friday, May 5.
