GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T could not string together enough runs to overcome a solid start from UNC Wilmington on Saturday as the Seahawks won Game 2 of the three-game Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) softball series 5-1 at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex.
Despite posting eight hits and stealing three bases, the Aggies dropped to 8-29 overall and 2-15 in CAA play. The Seahawks used a 2-for-2 day from Cassidy Relay and a home run from Madison Biddle to improve to 23-15 overall and 13-4 in league play.
UNCW has gotten off to good starts against the Aggies during the series. The Seahawks had a six-run first inning on Friday before posting two first-inning runs on Saturday. An RBI sacrifice fly from Mary Sobataka led to Tayler Vitola scoring. However, on the same play, an error also permitted Relay to score.
A&T starter Amaya Kearse (L, 1-6) escaped the inning by getting Morgan Britt to ground out and Skylar Stockton to pop out. But the Seahawks came back with a run in the second. Lauren Cope produced a leadoff single, moved to second on a groundout, and to third on a steal. Madison Biddle brought her home with an RBI single to left to give the Seahawks a 3-0 lead.
The Aggies tried to rally in the home second as graduate Brenay Howard singled and moved to second on a sac bunt from Destiny Sims. Sophomore catcher Camryn Caldwell also singled but was tagged out in a rundown, leaving the Aggies with a runner on third and two outs. A&T's threat ended on a strikeout.
Relay opened the Seahawks third with a single, stole second, and came home on an RBI single from Carson Fleming. But the Aggies had an answer in their third. Freshman Jamari Moss singled to open the frame but was later eliminated from the base paths on a fielder's choice off senior Alyxx Estrada's bat. With two out in the inning and Estrada on first, sophomore Katriel Williams singled off UNCW starter Kara Hammock (W, 11-4). Estrada scored on the play to cut UNCW's lead to 4-1.
Junior Joey Barkhimer came into the circle in relief of Kearse to start the fourth. She did surrender a home run to Biddle but had an outstanding outing afterward. Over four innings pitched, she gave up three hits, striking out four and walking two. Hammock went seven innings, striking out seven and walking one. Williams went 2-for-4 on the day.
A&T will try to avoid the sweep on Sunday when the two teams play at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex starting at noon.
