MACON, Ga. – North Carolina A&T softball kicked off the 2026 season with excitement.

In a pitching showdown between A&T junior Aaliyah Williams (W, 1-0) and Maine's Ava Zettlemoyer (L, 0-1), the Aggies got a three-run home run from Tyra Robinson in the home half of the sixth inning to lead A&T to a 3-2 win over the University of Maine Black Bears in the Heart of Georgia Classic tournament hosted by Mercer University at Sikes Field on Friday.  Later in the day, the Aggies lost to tournament host Mercer, 11-2 in five innings.

Against the Black Bears, Williams had an excellent outing, striking out six, allowing only two hits, and not giving up a run. Her counterpart, Zettlemoyer, posted seven strikeouts and had a shutout going before Robinson's blast gave the Aggies the lead.

However, it was Maine who struck first. Freshman right-hander Maliyah Alexander replaced Williams in the circle to open the visitor's sixth to make her collegiate debut. Maine's Francesca Guerrera greeted her to collegiate softball with a single to right field. After Madison Hand fouled out, Alexander walked Alli Goetz to put runners on first and second.

Maggie Helms advanced Guerrera to third and pinch runner Kierra Inman to second by grounding out. A passed ball followed by a throwing error allowed both runners to score to give Maine a 2-0 lead. Alexander walked the next two batters she faced before Williams reentered the game to get Eviana Robles to pop up to shortstop to end the threat.

Zettlemoyer's sixth started uneventfully. She retired the first two Aggies she faced before walking Division I transfer Bria Finley. Senior Camryn Caldwell then delivered by singling up the middle, which started to set things up for Robinson's heroics.

Freshman Tia Montgomery entered the game as a pinch runner for Caldwell, and Robinson came to the plate as a pinch-hitter for sophomore Aniya Merritt. Robinson's home run marked the third of her career and her first since hitting a home run since hitting one at Stony Brook on April 4, 2025. The inning ended on an Ayanna Mears groundout.

Williams returned to the circle in the seventh and gave up a one-out single to Anna Carlson before retiring the next two Maine batters to secure the season-opening win for A&T. Caldwell led the Aggies by going 2-for-3.

A&T did not do as well against the Bears as they did against the Black Bears. Junior Destiny Sims went 2-for-3, and Mears drove in a run against Mercer. East Carolina transfer Devin Long (L, 0-1) got the start for A&T against Mercer but lasted only a third of an inning. Right-hander Grace Roark (W, 1-0) posted six strikeouts over five innings to get the win. Avery Barton homered twice, scored twice, and posted five RBIs for the Bears.

A&T continues play in the Heart of Georgia Classic on Saturday with a 10 a.m. game against Evansville and a 12:30 p.m. game against Maine.

The Aggies return 14 players from last season's team and welcome nine newcomers, including two transfers. Among those returning are preseason Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) honorable mention standouts Trinity Glover and Lauren Hardy.