NEWARK, Del. – The North Carolina A&T softball had a tough start to the weekend, losing 8-0 and 11-0 in their Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) doubleheader against the University of Delaware Blue Hens on Saturday at UD's Delaware Softball Diamond. Both games ended in five innings.
Delaware used a combined 18 hits over two games to improve to 27-13 overall and 14-4 in the CAA. The Aggies struggled offensively Saturday, dropping to 9-29 overall and 2-15 in conference play.
In Game 2, the Aggies had a hopeful start as sophomore Destiny Sims singled to left field and stole second shortly after in the visitor's first before a strikeout ended the threat.
UD later took the lead after an A&T error allowed a run to score in a bases-loaded situation in the UD third. UD followed with three straight hits, locking down a 4-0 lead. After two more runs scored, one on a wild pitch and another on an RBI single to left field, the inning concluded with UD scoring six runs.
The Aggies defense held UD without a run in the fourth inning. However, despite a single to center field by junior Camryn Caldwell, the Aggies remained scoreless going into the home fifth, leaving the door open for the Blue Hens to end the game early thanks to the run rule. That occurred when the Blue Hens scored twice on wild pitches to end the game after reaching an 8-run lead after 4 ½ innings.
UD's catcher Mary Beth Cahalan went 3-for-3 and third baseman Sorella Gallucci went 2-for-3. Sims, Camryn Caldwell, and freshman Roshell Williams all had base hits. Senior Joey Barkhimer (L, 4-12) pitched 4 ½ innings while Morgan Hess (W, 7-4) pitched five innings, posting five strikeouts and zero walks.
Freshman Ayanna Mears had A&T's only hit in Game 1, a single through the left side in the second inning. An eight-run inning in the UD second put the Blue Hens on track to end the game early. An RBI double by Syndey Shaffer and a two-run home run from Mary Beth Cahalan in the third put the game in peril for A&T as UD took an 11-0 lead.
Two strikeouts by sophomore Aaliyah Williams in the fourth inning kept the Blue Hens from expanding their lead going into the visitor's fifth. Unable to avoid the run rule, the Aggies ended the game on a Jamari Moss fly out in the fifth inning.
Billie Kerwood (W, 15-8) pitched four innings and Emma Denison closed out the game. Lauren Hardy (L, 3-4) pitched 1 1/3 innings, followed by Aaliyah Williams, who pitched the remainder of the game.
The Aggies return to gameplay Sunday at 1 p.m. against Delaware to close out the three-game series.
