GREENSBORO — North Carolina A&T softball celebrated Senior Day before Saturday afternoon's 2024 season finale against the Stony Brook Seawolves at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex. Following the Senior Day festivities, the Aggies went after another upset win over the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA)-tournament-bound Seawolves but came short of accomplishing the feat with a 2-1 loss.
The Aggies lost two out of three to the Seawolves, with each contest decided by one run. The Aggies finish the season at 12-36 overall and 6-21 in conference play. The Seawolves improved to 34-15 overall and 19-8 in league play, and they will head to the tournament in Wilmington, N.C., as the No. 3 seed.
Throughout the series, the Aggies and the Seawolves engaged in a fierce battle, with each team claiming a victory. A&T seized Game 1 with a dramatic walk-off double by senior Alyxx Estrada, while SBU retaliated in Game 2 with a two-run homer in the visitor's seventh by Alyssa Costello. Unfortunately, the final game was spoiled by a mishap in the infield, which led to SBU's win. A&T's
With the game tied at 1-1 going into the visitor's seventh, Emily Reinstein opened the frame by singling down the left field line. Katherine Bubel replaced Reinstein on the base paths and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. A&T senior starting pitcher Sharla Kirkpatrick (L, 4-15) got Costello to fly out to left field for the second out of the inning. It appeared the Aggies may escape the inning with the game still tied.
Alicia Orosco hit a slower roller that A&T first baseman Joey Barkhimer charged and fielded. She did not have time to run to touch the bag for the out, so she turned to make a throw to second baseman Estrada, who was running to cover the base. But Barkhimer's throw sailed behind the running Estrada, who couldn't quite reach behind her to make the snag. The errant throw allowed Bubel to score, giving the Seawolves a 2-1 lead.
McFarland grounded out to the circle to end the inning, sending the game into the home seventh. A&T opened the seventh against SBU reliever Ashton Melaas (W, 10-3). Melaas surrendered a leadoff single to freshman Destiny Sims to put the tying run at first and the go-ahead run at the plate in freshman Trinity Glover. Melaas K'ed Glover to end the game, bringing an end to the first season at A&T for head coach Jose Gonzalez, Jr.
Head coach Jose Gonzalez, Jr. celebrated six seniors who have been instrumental in the team's journey. Among them were pitchers Sharla Kirkpatrick, Kayla Douglas, and Amaya Kearse, who will be missed in the Aggies' rotation in 2025. The team also recognized the contributions of Alyxx Estrada, Kayla Taylor, and Howard, the latter of whom may potentially receive another year of eligibility.
Kirkpatrick had an excellent final game, pitching a complete game, where she only gave up one earned run on six hits. That only one run came in the third before freshman Jamari Moss earned an RBI single in the home fourth to tie the game at 1-1.
Estrada will perhaps be the biggest bat to leave A&T's lineup after she finished her career with a .284 batting average, including 30 career doubles and nine triples.
