GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T received a stellar pitching performance from sophomore Aaliyah Williams (L, 2-12) during the first game of a three-game Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) softball series at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex on Thursday.
Unfortunately for the Aggies, the College of Charleston Cougars' starting pitcher, Mackenzie Mathis (W, 10-11), had an even stronger outing in the circle, striking out 12 to lead Charleston to a 2-1 win.
Aaliyah Williams pitched a complete-game five-hitter, striking out three, walking three, and surrendering one earned run, but the Aggies still fell to 12-36 overall and 4-21 in the CAA.
The Cougars scored both runs on two sacrifices to 35-14 overall and 20-5 in league play, moving a game behind Delaware for the conference lead. Aaliyah Williams' biggest struggle came in the visitors' second inning.
Julia Sitterding used a bunt to reach base against Aaliyah Williams before stealing second to move into scoring position. Karly Smith followed with a single, moving Sitterding to third, but Smith got eliminated from the base paths trying to steal second as Aggies freshman catcher Tyra Robinson made the throw.
Cougars first baseman Sierra Paradis then laid down a squeeze bunt that allowed Sitterding to score. Thanks to an error, Paradis reached base on the bunt. The Cougars replaced her on the base paths with pinch runner Samantha Horn. Aaliyah Williams walked the next two batters she faced to load the bases with one out.
Jay Wrightsman's RBI sac fly allowed Horn to score before Karlee Hughes was caught in a rundown, eventually getting tagged out by Robinson as she tried to reach home plate.
After pitching her way out of a bases-loaded situation in the Charleston third inning, Aaliyah Williams settled and got comfortable inside the circle. She did not allow a Charleston hit in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Meanwhile, the Aggies mounted a potent threat against the Cougars and Mathis in the home fifth.
Mathis opened the frame by hitting freshman Ayanna Mears with a pitch before striking out Robinson. Senior Joey Barkhimer singled to left to put Aggies at first and second before Mathis struck out freshman Lauren Hardy and freshman Jaden James hit into a force play to end the threat.
The Aggies made things exciting in the seventh, however. Mears doubled before junior pinch-hitter Camryn Caldwell reached on an error, allowing Mears to score to cut the Cougars lead to 2-1. In addition, the Aggies put the winning run at the plate in Barkhimer.
Unfortunately, Barkhimer quickly turned into the tying run at the plate after the umpires ruled Caldwell left base early on a steal attempt. Barkhimer eventually struck out, followed by a strikeout by Rochelle Williams to end the game. Austy Miller led the Cougars by going 2-for-4 at the plate.
The two teams will play Game 2 of the series Friday at 2 p.m. from the Lady Aggies Softball Complex.
