ROCK HILL, S.C. – North Carolina A&T opened the 2024 softball season and the Jose Gonzalez Jr. era at the Winthrop Eagle Classic Friday afternoon at Winthrop University's Terry Field.
The Aggies lost the opening game to the University of North Carolina Tar Heels (UNC), 11-0. Later in the day, the Aggies lost to host Winthrop 7-1. The Tar Heels tossed a no-hitter against A&T earlier in the day before freshman Jamari Moss and sophomore Katriel Williams went 2-for-4 against the Eagles in the second game.
Winthrop got off to a fast start as a bases-loaded walk in the first inning led to the Eagles first run. That was followed by a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead. Bailey Warren brought home Winthrop's third run on an RBI sacrifice fly.
Reese Basinger then wrapped up the Eagles five-run first inning with an RBI single up the middle. Basinger's single scored Megan Powell from third. Ansley Lee scored on the single and an Aggies error. Winthrop added two more runs in the fourth to take a 7-0 lead before the Aggies got on the scoreboard for the first time in 2024.
Williams opened the sixth inning with an infield single. Graduate right fielder Brenay Howard's sac bunt moved Williams to third, setting up Moss's RBI single that scored Williams. Moss moved to second on the play after a Winthrop throwing error. Moss advanced to third on a Megan Ellis groundout before Makayla Layton walked to put Aggies on first and third. But the inning ended on an Avery Evans strikeout.
In the seventh, Shandi Brown hit a one-out single through the left side, followed by a walk to Alyxx Estrada. A&T loaded the bases on a Williams infield single, but Howard flew out to center, and Moss fouled out to end the game.
Basinger led the Eagles by going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Basinger (W, 1-0) also pitched 5.2 innings, giving up two hits and striking out 10. Joey Barkhimer (L, 0-1) pitched four innings and struck out two.
Autumn Owens led the Tar Heels by going 2-for-2 with two runs scored and four RBI, including a three-run home run. Britton Rogers (W, 1-0) pitched the five-inning no-hitter, striking out eight. Sharla Kirkpatrick (L, 0-1) pitched an inning and a third.
Play at the Winthrop Eagle Classic continues on Saturday when the Aggies face UNC at 11 a.m. and Winthrop at 4 p.m. at Terry Field.
