North Carolina A&T Softball Suffers A Disappointing First Day of the Season at the Winthrop Eagle Classic
ROCK HILL, S.C. – A&T Softball Attacks Two Rivals
The North Carolina A&T State University softball team had a challenging day at the Winthrop Eagle Classic on Friday. They first squared off against the University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels, then against the home team, Winthrop University Eagles. Unfortunately, the Aggies ended their opening day with two losses.
First Game Against UNC Tar Heels
The opening game against the Tar Heels proved to be a thorny start to the 2024 softball season. The UNC team dominated the game, dealing an 11-0 defeat to the Aggies. UNC’s Britton Rogers shone brightly, pitching a no-hitter five-inning game and striking out eight of the Aggies. In addition, teammate Autumn Owens impressed viewers by scoring four RBIs, including a three-run homer, for the Tar Heels.
Clash with the Winthrop Eagles
Later in the day, the Aggies played a game against the Winthrop University Eagles. The Eagles got off to a flying start, swiftly taking a 7-0 lead by the fourth inning. However, A&T managed to break their scoreless streak in the sixth inning. The Aggies were able to score their first run of 2024, thanks to freshman Jamari Moss and sophomore Katriel Williams who went 2-for-4 against Winthrop. Despite this breakthrough, the Aggies still suffered a 7-1 defeat.
Aggies Show Some Resilience
Despite their losses, certain Aggies showcased promising performances. Jamari Moss and Katriel Williams went 2-for-4 against the Eagles, while Joey Barkhimer struck out two Winthrop batters and successfully faced off 4 innings on the mound.
A Tough Start to the New Era of A&T Softball
These games signal the beginning of the Jose Gonzalez Jr. era for the North Carolina A&T softball team. Though it is an unfortunate start for the team’s new coach, the Aggies have plenty of games left in the season to refine their strategies and win their upcoming battles.
Games Continue at the Winthrop Eagle Classic
The Aggies are not out of the fire yet as the competition continues. They will go toe-to-toe with UNC at 11 a.m., and the Winthrop Eagles again at 4 p.m., both games to be played at Terry Field. The Raleigh-based Aggies hope to reorient their combat strategies after these initial setbacks and bounce back on the second day of the tournament.
