GREENSBORO – The North Carolina A&T softball team tried to pull off a late-inning surge, but it was not enough in a 6-2 loss to the Campbell Fighting Camels during Game 1 of a three-game Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) series at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex on Friday.
Freshman Lauren Hardy, playing in the designated player spot on Friday, had a 2-for-3 afternoon, scoring a run and driving in another. Senior Joey Barkhimer (L, 3-7) had a solid outing in the circle for A&T, even though the Aggies still dropped to 5-18 overall and 0-4 in CAA play. Barkhimer pitched all seven innings, striking out five, walking five, and giving up four earned runs.
The Camels received a two-RBI game from Hannah Cornetto to improve to 16-7 overall and 4-0 in CAA play.
Barkhimer gave up a run in the first inning on a wild pitch before striking out the final two batters she faced in the frame. She gave up back-to-back singles in the second before retiring the next three Camels she faced to leave the frame without giving up a run. That would not be the case in Camels' third.
An error and a walk allowed two runners on before a throwing error by A&T allowed both those runners to score, giving Campbell a 3-0 lead. Barkhimer found herself in even more trouble as Allyiah Swiney singled and advanced to second on an error. However, Barkhimer again pitched the Aggies out of trouble by getting Madison Ford to pop out before striking out Emma Slutzah to end the inning.
Campbell added two more runs in the fourth on a two-run single from Cornetto. The Camels added a run in the fifth by scoring on another A&T error.
The Aggies got going in the home fifth as Hardy led off the frame against Campbell starter Hannah Leierer (W, 3-2) with a single. In an interesting turn of events, she advanced to second on a passed ball before scoring on the same play thanks to a Campell error. The Aggies cut the Camels lead to four runs in the sixth as a two-out walk to put freshman Ayanna Mears on second and Barkhimer at first.
A double steal put both runners in scoring position before Hardy delivered a single to right, scoring Mears. Unfortunately, the inning ended when Barkhimer was thrown out at home trying to score. A&T went down in order in the seventh to end the ballgame.
The two teams will play a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex because rain is forecasted for Sunday.
