GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T took command early on Tuesday in a non-conference softball contest against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), leaving little doubt that its seven-game losing streak would end.
The Aggies got a three-run home run from Joey Barkhimer, and sophomore starting pitcher Aaliyah Williams (W, 2-6) pitched five innings without giving up an earned run to lead the Aggies to a 10-1 win in five innings over the Hawks. The Aggies improved to 6-20, while the Hawks dropped to 2-18.
Aaliyah Williams recorded nine strikeouts, gave up one unearned run and finished the game with a three-hitter. Aaliyah Williams gave up a one-out single in the top half of the first inning before Tyla Dickers popped out, and Clarke Calvi got caught stealing to end the frame. A&T went to work from there.
Sophomore outfielder Destiny Sims got things rolling with a one-out triple to left center field off UMES starter Paris Richards (L, 0-6). Junior outfielder Katriel Williams reached on an error before Barkhimer blasted her three-run homer to give the Aggies a 3-0 lead. It marked her third home run this season and the ninth of her career.
After Barkhimer's shot, freshman catcher Tyra Robinson kept the rally going with a triple, followed by freshman designated player Lauren Hardy getting to first on a walk. Hardy moved into scoring position by stealing second before freshman shortstop Jaden James singled through the left side to score Robinson.
Freshman third baseman Ayanna Mears brought Hardy and James home with a two-run double, giving A&T a 6-0 advantage. Aaliyah Williams, who started the inning by grounding out, delivered in her second at-bat of the inning with a two-out RBI single to score Mears to complete the Aggies seven-run first inning.
The Hawks got their first two batters to reach base before Aaliyah Williams struck out the next two Hawks and got McKenzie Abi to pop out to end the threat. Robinson added to the Aggies lead by hitting her first career home run, a solo shot to put the Aggies ahead 8-0. UMES got on the board in its half of the third.
Jaycee Holt reached on a single and advanced to second on a throwing error. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt before Calvi hit an RBI sac fly to left to score Holt. After giving up a walk, Aaliyah Williams returned to form by striking out Kia Hudson to end the inning.
In the Aggies third, freshman outfielder Roshell Williams got the Aggies offense going with a one-out single, followed by an Aaliyah Williams single and a walk to Sims to load the bases. Another A&T run scored next when Katriel Williams walked to force in a run. An RBI sac fly from Barkhimer to close out A&T's scoring for the afternoon.
Aaliyah Williams retired the Hawks in order in the fourth and struck out two more batters in the fifth to end the game early because of the run-rule that states the game ends when a team is ahead by eight runs or more any time after 4 ½ innings.
At the plate, Aaliyah Williams went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Barkhimer posted four RBIs, and Tyra Robinson had two hits, two runs scored, and drove in a run. The same two teams play on Wednesday at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex at 2 p.m.
