GREENSBORO – The Campbell softball team put together a 10-run inning in Game 1 of a Saturday doubleheader against North Carolina A&T at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex. The Fighting Camels followed that up by putting together another 10-run inning in Game 2 as they earned the sweep, 12-3 in five innings and 17-1.
A&T dropped to 5-20 this season and 0-6 in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). Campbell improved to 18-7 overall and 6-0 in league play.
In Game 1, junior Katriel Williams hit a two-run RBI triple in the fifth to help the Aggies avoid the shutout. Sophomore Aaliyah Williams started the rally in the fifth inning with a bunt single before freshman Roshell Williams reached on an error to allow Katriel Willaims to bring both runners home. Freshman Jaden James brought Katriel Williams home on an RBI sacrifice fly.
Allyiah Swiney led the Camels in Game 1 by going 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Aaliyah Williams (L, 1-6) got the start for A&T before freshman Lauren Hardy replaced her in the second inning. Megan Gregory (W, 4-1) posted six strikeouts over five innings pitched for the Camels.
Senior Joey Barkhimer (L, 3-8) got the start for the Aggies in Game 2, going 3 1/3 innings before being replaced by Aaliyah Williams. She pitched three innings before Hardy pitched the game's final 2/3 innings. Campbell's Emily Dameron (W, 6-1) went five innings before Cassiti Baroni pitched the final two.
Campbell took a 6-0 lead over the first 4 ½ innings of the game. But the Aggies tried to stay close. They posted a run in the home fifth as James hit a one-out double to right center. Aaliyah Williams followed with a single but got caught in a rundown between first and second base. The rundown allowed James to score, cutting Campbell's lead to 6-1.
A&T escaped the visitor's sixth without damage despite the Camels loading the bases. But the Camels' big 10-run seventh put the game away as five hits and four A&T errors contributed to the inning. Freshman catcher Tyra Robinson had the best game of her short career, going 3-for-3 for A&T in the leadoff spot. James had a 2-for-3 Game 2 and scored a run. Amber Desena's six RBIs led the Camels.
The Aggies will play five games this week. They will host the University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex. Both games start at 2 p.m. A&T then travels to Wilmington for a three-game CAA weekend series against the UNC Wilmington Seahawks, beginning Friday with a 2 p.m. game.
