HAMPTON, Va. – After North Carolina A&T's tough loss against Hampton in Game 1 of their Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) softball weekend series, A&T posted six on six hits in the sixth inning to triumph over Hampton 9-1 in six innings in Game 2 Saturday at the Pirates Softball Stadium.
Need more sixes? Freshman Lauren Hardy (W, 5-5) led the Aggies in the circle by pitching a six-inning six-hitter, surrendering one, walking two and striking out six to help the Aggies improve to 11-35 overall and 3-20 in league play. At the plate, she went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
A&T scored six runs in the sixth inning to secure the win and boosted A&T to 11-35 and 3-20 in the conference.
The Aggies led 3-0 going into the visitor's sixth. A&T's big sixth inning started with a one-out single from junior Camryn Caldwell. Freshman Jaden James followed with a two-run blast over the left-field fence to give the Aggies a 5-0 lead. James has three home runs this season.
A&T's momentum continued against Hampton pitcher Angelina Branch. Branch walked junior Katriel Williams before sophomore Destiny Sims singled, setting up another home run during the inning. Sophomore Trinity Glover took a pitch from Branch and landed it over the right-field fence for a three-run homer.
Glover has a team-leading seven homers during the 2025 season. Glover's homer gave the Aggies an 8-0 lead, putting them on the verge of winning the game by run rule with an advantage of eight or more runs after five.
Later in the inning, sophomore Aaliyah Williams added another run for a nine-run advantage over the Pirates.
Hampton threatened to extend the game into the seventh. The Pirates got their only run in the home sixth. Carmynn Bonner doubled to left field, followed by a Kylie Hill singled to left field. Jasmine Venson grounded out to shortstop, sending Carmynn Bonner home to bring the Pirates to within eight.
But Hardy ended the game with back-to-back strikeouts to even the series at 1-1 going into Sunday's series finale scheduled for noon at the Pirates Softball Stadium.
A&T built an early lead in Game 2. Facing Hampton starter Ava Lester (L, 2-4) in the first inning, Glover walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Lester walked A&T sophomore Jamari Moss before Glover scored on an RBI single from Hardy.
In the second, A&T capitalized off freshman Ayanna Mears' hustle. She singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before stealing third and scoring on a James RBI single, leading to Branch replacing Lester in the circle.
Moss belted her second home run of the season, a solo shot in the third, to give A&T a 3-0 lead before the Aggies exploded for six runs in the sixth. James went 2-for-3, including her two-run homer. Meanwhile, Hampton dropped to 15-30 overall and 5-18 in the CAA.
