SPARTANBURG, SC – North Carolina A&T softball completed the Sparkle City Classic on Sunday with a 9-1 loss to USC Upstate in five innings at Wofford College's Hope Field. The Aggies went 0-5 during the classic, including two losses apiece to Colgate and Upstate.

On Sunday, the Upstate Spartans scored seven runs over the first two innings as A&T freshman starter Jaden James (L, 0-1) pitched only 1 1/3 innings before senior Joey Barkhimer replaced her in the circle.

The Aggies got on the board in the visitor's third against Upstate starter Sierra Maness (W, 5-0). Maness walked Barkhimer on five pitches. Maness followed by hitting sophomore Avery Evans with the first pitch of the bat to put Aggies on first and second. After junior Katriel Williams hit into a fielder's choice, eliminating Barkhimer from the base paths, Williams and Evans stole their respective bases to put runners at second and third.

Sophomore Destiny Sims walked to load the bases before Maness unleashed a wild pitch to allow Evans to score. A strikeout and a fly out to right followed to end the frame.

After an RBI single in the third by Spartans second baseman Abby Polk, the Spartans put the run rule into effect in the fifth when Polk scored on an error to put the Spartans ahead by eight runs after 4 ½ innings.

A&T will return to action on Wednesday, February 26, when Gate City rival UNC Greensboro visits the Lady Aggies Softball Complex at 3 p.m.