Luper improves to 6-0 on the season

Box Score 1          Box Score 2

HAMPTON, Va., MARCH 6, 2008 – The North Carolina A&T softball team continues to showcase its 1-2 punch on the mound. Sophomore pitcher Sasha Philpot and freshman hurler Jennifer Luper held the Pirates offense in check on Thursday to earn a 4-1 and 3-1 doubleheader sweep of the Hampton Pirates on the road.

The Aggies are off to their best start in the school’s history of playing fastpitch softball at 11-2-1. Thursday’s games did not count toward the conference standings. Chaola Simmons and Jessie Larson had two RBIs apiece in the first game. The Aggies big inning in the first game came in the fifth. In fact, it was the only inning the Aggies scored runs.

Bianca Alsobrook opened the inning with a double down the left field line. An Antoinette Torres walk and a bunt single by Yahamma loaded the bases with one out. Senior Chaola Simmons then broke open a scoreless game with a two-run RBI single to center to score Alsobrook and Torres for a 2-0 Aggies lead. Power hitter Jessie Larson, who had not had a RBI in three games coming into Thursday, broke that streak with a two-run RBI double to give the Aggies a 4-0 cushion.

It was all Philpot needed. The Pirates scored their only run of the game on two Aggie errors. Otherwise, Philpot was nearly untouchable. She pitched a complete-game three hitter with six strikeouts and just one walk to improve to 4-2.

Luper wasn’t exactly untouchable, but she effectively pitched her way out of jams throughout the afternoon. With Aggies leading by just two runs going into the sixth, Luper started the sixth by walking Jad Jeffries. An Angel Balser single and a bunt single by Tiffany Brents loaded the bases for the Pirates with two outs. But Luper struck out Matthews to end the inning.

In the seventh, Hampton’s Brittany Davis and Weissenbach got Luper into more trouble. Davis opened the inning by walking and Weissenbach followed with a single to put runners on first and second with no outs. Luper made more problems for herself by walking Evelyn Garcia. But Luper took upon herself to by striking out Jeffries.

Luper’s defense then came to her aid by turning a double play to end the game. Luper improved to an impressive 6-0 to start her career. She pitched seven innings, gave up one run, struck out eight and walked four.

Offensively, Larson added two more RBIs to her totals to lead the Aggies in Game 2. With Aggies trailing 1-0, Larson’s grounder to second scored Channing Statham and Sylvia Felder to give the Aggies the lead for good. Tangala Conover followed with a single to score Simmons.

The Aggies face rival N.C. Central 1 p.m., Sunday in Cary, N.C.