White continues impressive season with three more hits

ROCK HILL, S.C., March 11, 2007 – Hitting the softball has not been a problem for North Carolina A&T, but another offensive dual didn’t go its way in the Winthrop adidas Invitational. On Sunday, Providence rallied to down the Aggies 13-12 in extra innings.

The loss eliminated the Aggies from bracket play. Yahamma White had another impressive day at the plate with a 3-for-6 performance that included two runs scored and three RBI. Three Aggies homered, including Sylvia Felder’s first career home run. Jessie Larson hit her fifth homer of the season and Bullock hit her team-leading seventh home run.

Providence scored eight runs in the fifth to overcome a 6-0 deficit. The Aggies were hurt by five walks, a two-run RBI single by Christy Baker and a three-run home run by Danielle Bertolette in the inning.

The Aggies fought back in the home half of the fifth as White hit a bases loaded, two-run RBI double to tie the game at 8. The Friars regained the lead in the sixth thanks to more walks. Eleven Friars walked on the day. Rachel Bartholomew and Becker led off the sixth with walks.  

Erin Moran loaded the bases with a single to center field. A Bertolette sacrifice fly and two costly Aggie errors would help the Friars take an 11-8 lead. But Larson led off the Aggies sixth with a solo home run. After a groundout, Bullock followed with a homer to move the Aggies to within a run, 11-10.

Adia Dial kept the inning going with a single as the Aggies put themselves in a golden opportunity to take the lead when Britney Reddick reached on an error to put Aggies at first and second. Felder loaded the bases with a walk and Chaola Simmons helped the Aggies tie the game by looking at four bad pitches for a walk that scored Dial. The inning unfortunately ended with a force out at home and a Tabitha Veney groundout.

Both teams failed to score in the seventh as the Friars left on two runners in the inning and the Aggies stranded one. In extra innings, Providence’s Bertolette was placed on second via international tie-breaking softball rules. She went to third on an error that put Caroline Santilli on base. Santilli moved into scoring position on a Jenna Garcia groundout.

Katie Ross’ sacrifice fly to left scored Bertolette for a 12-11 Providence lead.  Another Aggies error, their fifth of the game, allowed Santilli to score for a two-run lead.

N.C. A&T’ had a chance to answer in its half of the eighth. Dial was placed on second, moved to third on Felder’s groundout. With two outs, Simmons reached on an error that scored Dial to move the Aggies to within a run. The error brought the Aggies best hitter to plate in White. But the Alisha Levins slowed down the spectacular freshman by getting her to groundout to end the game.

The Aggies fell to 9-14 on the season and will play Gardner-Webb, Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Lady Aggies Softball.