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GREENSBORO, April 25, 2007 – The potent offense supplied by the North Carolina A&T softball team looked like it had hit a wall going into April and extending into mid-April.

Yet, as the MEAC Softball Tournament approaches, it appears the Aggies offense is coming back at the right time. The Aggies put on an impressive offensive show against a good Norfolk State team, sweeping the Spartans 7-4 and 9-1 in non-conference doubleheader action at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex on Wednesday.

Every Aggie who batted in the first game had at least one hit. Five Aggies had at least two hits in the second game. Yahamma White had an excellent day, going a combined 4-for-6 with five RBI and three runs scored, including an her third inside-the-park home run of the season.

White remains in a heated battle for the MEAC batting title. Chaola Simmons set up many of those RBI opportunities by going a combined 5-for-8 with five runs scored from the lead-off spot. Tangala Conover hit her fifth home run of the season in Game 2.

What’s even better for the Aggies (23-28) is that they also received outstanding pitching performances from Sasha Philpot (13-9) in Game 1 and Adia Dial (9-12) in Game 2.

Philpot went seven innings, gave up five hits on four runs and stuck out five. She benefited from two big Aggie innings – the first and the fourth.

A one-out two-run single by MEAC RBI leader Jessie Larson put the Aggies on the board in the first. After Larson advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Conover, Lillian Bullock brought her home with a sacrifice fly to left to give the Aggies a 3-0 lead. Leading 3-1 going into the fourth, the Aggies would add to their lead.

Tabitha Veney led off the fourth with a single to center field. Sylvia Felder laid down a sacrifice bunt for Veney that advanced Veney to third thanks to Veney’s hustle. Britney Hodges took advantage of Veney’s determination by laying down another bunt. NSU starter Valazquez tried to get Veney going home, but Veney beat the throw to give the Aggies a 4-1 lead.

An infield single by Simmons put runners on first and second, setting up White’s two-run RBI double that soared over the head of NSU center fielder Cabeza. The Spartans turned to reliever Rodriguez after White’s double. It helped temporarily as she got Larson to line out, but the Aggies capped off their four-run inning with an RBI double from Conover that scored White.

RBI doubles from White and Rodriguez helped the Spartans cut into the Aggies lead in the sixth, but Philpot settled in and retired the Spartans in order in the seventh to clinch the win.

In the second game, Dial was even more impressed. Dial went six innings, gave up six hits and no earned runs. The Aggies broke open a 1-1 game in the third thanks to two-run inside-the-park home run from White and a two-run shot from Conover. The Aggies ended the game in the sixth with three runs that invoked the 8-run rule.

A three-base throwing error by Brown allowed Simmons to reach third to open the sixth. White brought her home with a sacrifice fly. Larson kept the inning going with a single followed by singles from Bullock and Dial to put the Aggies up seven. Veney’s single to left brought home Dial to end the game.

The Aggies return to action at 2 p.m., Friday against Bethune-Cookman at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex. It will be Senior Day for Dial, Veney and Jessica Cooper.