N.C. A&T Outlasts NSU 6-5
Karen M. Carty, Asst. SID
Box Score
GREENSBORO, N.C. — North Carolina A&T third baseman Hope Fletcher hit an RBI triple in the seventh to tie the game at 5-all and second baseman Lillian Bullock scored the winning run on an error by Norfolk State right fielder Sarah Spanka (Virginia Beach, Va.) as the Lady Aggies defeated the Spartans 6-5 on Sunday afternoon at the Aggie Softball Complex.
NSU (12-27, 3-9 MEAC) scored first this time, posting three runs in the top of the first inning. With two outs and two runners on base, Danielle Wright(Safety Harbor, Fla.) hit an RBI single to right center field to score Jamie Raab(Houston, Texas). Elizabeth Castaneda(Montclair, Calif.) followed with an RBI single down the right field line and Meghan Ramsey(Virginia Beach, Va.) drove in Wright with a single up the middle to put the Spartans up 3-0.
N.C. A&T (25-22, 8-1 MEAC) countered in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game at 3-all. Jessie Larson tripled to center field to score Bullock and Britney Reddick. Larson scored two batters later on a single by Bianca Alsobrook.
The game was tied until the top of the seventh when Jeanette Sauceda(Ontario, Calif.) and Wright each had RBI hits to put NSU up 5-3. But the Lady Aggies’ three runs in the bottom of the frame gave them the win.
Jennifer Luper picked up the win after pitching six innings in relief. She allowed five hits and two earned runs and struck out three batters. Castaneda fell to 3-5 on the season after pitching three and two-third innings in relief and giving up five hits and three runs (one earned).
Fletcher, Bullock and Larson each had two hits for the Lady Aggies, while Raab and Wright each went 2-for-4 for the Spartans.
The Spartans end the MEAC season with a 3-9 record and will host Winston-Salem State in a non-conference weekend series on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s doubleheader begins at 3 p.m. and Sunday’s single game starts at noon. NSU’s three seniors, Brianeisha Eure(Virginia Beach, Va.), Raab and Ramsey, will be honored prior to the start of Sunday’s game.