GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T had some golden opportunities on Saturday during the second game of a three-game Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) softball series at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex.
But the Aggies left nine runners on base in a 4-2 loss to the Monmouth Hawks.
Junior Katriel Williams continued her phenomenal season on Saturday, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored as the Aggies dropped to 5-15 overall and 0-2 in conference play. Katriel Williams improved her batting average to .400 on Saturday. Sophomore Destiny Sims also doubled and went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Monmouth got one run in the visitor's first inning off A&T starter Joey Barkhimer (L, 3-5). Barkhimer settled in nicely inside the circle after the first, holding the Hawks scoreless over the next two innings. She pitched all seven innings, striking out six, walking four, and surrendering five hits.
She ran into trouble in the visitor's fourth when Jayla Cadena reached second on a one-out double to left field. After the double, Barkhimer walked Gianna Stern, putting runners on first and second.
Lexi Castaneda followed with a bunt attempt to advance the runners. But it did better than that. Thanks to a throwing error, both runners on base scored, and Castanada went to third on the mishap. Monmouth continued to capitalize on the mistake as Olivia Smith's RBI single brought home Castaneda to give the Hawks a 4-0 lead.
Scotty Miller followed with another single, advancing Smith to third before Miller stole second to both runners in scoring position. However, Barkhimer brilliantly pitched her away out of any further damage happening, striking out Kylee McLain and Clare Picone to end the frame.
A&T came roaring back in its half of the fourth. Katriel Williams opened the frame with a triple, and Sims quickly brought her home with an RBI double to center field. Sims' double led to Monmouth making a pitching change as Cadena (W, 3-4) was replaced by Monmouth's Friday starter, Olivia Lewis (S, 1).
Sophomore Jamari Moss greeted her with an RBI single to center, scoring Sims from second to cut Monmouth's lead to 4-2. A&T's momentum continued as freshman Ayanna Mears singled before she and pinch runner Aaliyah Lassiter performed a double steal to put Aggies at third and second with no outs.
Unfortunately, the Hawks surprisingly escaped the inning without giving up another run. Lewis struck out junior Camryn Caldwell. Later, Lassiter was thrown out trying to score, and freshman Jaden James lined out to end the threat.
The Aggies would have a few more opportunities to rally against the Hawks. They loaded the bases in the fifth before Mears hit into a force play to end the frame. A&T had the tying run at the plate in Sims after Katriel Williams singled in the home seventh. But a groundout ended the game.
Miller led the Hawks by going 2-for-3 with a run scored. The two teams will complete the three-game set on Sunday, with the first pitch scheduled for noon.
