Senior combines for nine RBIs over two games

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GREENSBORO, April 26, 2008 – Sylvia Felder has been a part of North Carolina A&T’s starting lineup for four years because of her glover work more so than her offense.

But for someone seeing Felder play for the first time on Saturday would have never guessed that. A day before she will be honored along with fellow senior Chaola Simmons, Felder helped the Aggies softball team sweep a doubleheader from Norfolk State 12-4 and 8-0 at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex by recording a combined nine RBIs over both games. Both games ended in five innings because of the 8-run mercy rule.

The Aggies improved to 28-15-1 overall and 8-3 in the MEAC. The Aggies are four wins away from breaking the school record in wins. Freshman starter Jennifer Luper (18-4) earned the win on the mound. She tied the school record for pitching wins, which was set by teammate Sasha Philpot last season. Luper struck out four over five innings and gave up just six hits.

But it was Philpot who had the dominant performance in Game 2. The sophomore won the 27^th game of her career by tossing the sixth shutout of her career. She went five innings, struck out two and surrendered just three hits.

Philpot got help from Felder early in Game 2. Norfolk State starter Miki Rodriguez didn’t help herself by walking Jessie Larson and Lillian Bullock to open the second inning. Channing Statham loaded the bases by reaching on a Spartans error. Felder, who came into Saturday with just seven RBIs on the season, took Rodriguez’s 0-2 pitch and launched it over the left field fence for her first career grand slam.

The Aggies added to their lead in the third. Freshman Ryanne Hill hit a two-out double to left center to score Larson from first who walked. After Statham walked, the run-producing Felder stepped up again and singled to center field to score Hill and give the Aggies a 6-0 lead.

Felder ended the game in the fifth. Hill started the inning with a walk. Statham then hit a grounder to second that bounced off the leg of the Spartans second baseman into left center, allowing Statham to go to third and Hill to score for the 7-0 lead. The game ended on a Felder well-placed bloop single that landed between first base and right field to score Statham to enact the 8-run rule.

Felder came into the game hitting .180. She was 3-for-3 with six RBIs in the second game. In the first game, she wasn’t too shabby either. She went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. She helped the Aggies rally from a 4-0 deficit with six-run third. N.C. A&T scored all six runs with two outs.

White started the two-out rally with a single. After Tangie Conover followed with a single, Larson stepped up and hit her second home run of the season, a three-run drive over the right-center field fence that cut the Spartans lead to 4-3. Bullock continued the inning with a double. An infield hit by Hill and a walk to Statham loaded the bases for Felder. Her RBI double to right, cleared the bases and gave the Aggies a 6-4 lead.

Luper stepped closer to history by not giving up a hit in the fourth and fifth innings. The Aggies pounded out 18 hits in the first game with White leading the way with three. Larson added four RBIs. The Aggies will continue the series Sunday at noon. Felder and Simmons will be honored at 11:45 a.m., as a part of Senior Day at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex.