HAMPTON, Va. – North Carolina A&T softball had one of its most dominant performances of the 2025 season on Sunday, defeating the Hampton Pirates 16-0 in five innings at Pirates Softball Stadium.
Since joining the league three seasons ago, A&T's 16 runs are the most it has ever scored against a Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) opponent. It is the Aggies' second-highest run total of the season behind their 19 runs against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore on March 19 at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex. The Aggies, who improved to 12-35 overall and 4-20 in the CAA, secured their first shutout win since beating Queens 4-0 on March 5.
In losing the three-game series to the Aggies, Hampton dropped to 15-31 overall and 5-19 in league play. Senior Joey Barkhimer (W, 5-15) pitched a five-inning, three-hit shutout, striking out four and walking one. Barkhimer received a massive boost before stepping in the circle thanks to A&T's eight-run first inning.
Junior Katriel Williams, who went an outstanding 3-for-3 with four runs scored and an RBI, started the game with a single, which was followed by a Destiny Sims single before both runners advanced due to a wild pitch from Hampton starter Jada Evans (L, 5-9). Evans then hit sophomore Jamari Moss with a pitch to load the bases.
Evans forced in a run by walking freshman Tyra Robinson to give the Aggies the first of many runs. Barkhimer's RBI single made it 2-0 before an error allowed two more A&T runs to score. Freshman Ayanna Mears' groundout allowed Barkhimer to score, and another Hampton error brought home freshman Lauren Hardy, who earlier reached on an error.
Sophomore Trinity Glover then stepped up to the plate with bases loaded and doubled down the left field line, sending two more runs home giving A&T an 8-0 advantage before Moss grounded out to end the frame.
In the home second, singles from Hampton's Carmynn Bonner and Cassidy Lee put two runners on before Jasmine Venson loaded the bases by reaching base on an error with one out. But Barkhimer struck out the next two Pirates to end the threat and maintain the shutout.
An RBI single from Moss in the A&T third gave the Aggies a 10-0 before A&T's run-rule was made emphatically with a six-run fifth inning.
Freshman Jaden James reached on an error after Mears singled up the middle to start the rally. Mears scored on a Katriel Williams double up the middle, and Sims also reached on an error, allowing James to score. Glover's single up the middle allowed Katriel Williams and Destiny Sims to score, giving the Aggies a 14-0 advantage.
Barkhimer's two-run home run completed the scoring. It marked her fifth home run of the season and the 11th of her career. She helped her cause by going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Glover had two hits and four RBIs.
A&T softball returns to action on Thursday, May 1 at 2 pm for its last three-game CAA series of the season against the College of Charleston at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex.
