Hill records a combined six hits during the doubleheader

Box Score 1
Box Score 2
SAVANNAH, Ga., March 5, 2009 – Inclement weather forced the North Carolina A&T softball team to miss out on playing five games in the last five days.

With the restraints lifted on Thursday afternoon, the Aggies played like a team glad to be back on the softball field as they swept a doubleheader from Savannah State, 12-2 and 10-5.

In the second game, Ryanne Hill led the Aggies by going 3-for-5 with a grand slam home run, four RBIs and two runs scored. Channing Statham had two hits, including a home run and three RBIs. Jessie Larson also homered for the Aggies in Game 2 along with Jennifer Luper, who usually just serves as the Aggies pitching ace.

Luper’s home run was a part of six-run seventh inning that helped the Aggies pull away from the Tigers. Leading 4-2 going into the seventh, Luper took advantage of Statham single by hitting a two-run homer over the left field fence for a 6-2 Aggies lead.

Pinch-hitter Bianca Alsobrook followed Luper’s homer with a single to center field, which was followed by a Danielle Nguyen walk. Yahamma White loaded the bases with a single. Ashley Carter’s grounder would lead to Alsobrook being forced out at home as Carter reached first on a fielder’s choice.

Hill made sure everyone went home on her at-bat, however. The Charlotte sophomore gave the Aggies a commanding 10-2 lead with her grand slam, which turned out to be her second home run of the season and the eighth of her career.

The Tigers tried to mount a fight with a three-run seventh, but Aggies starter Sasha Philpot got Wilson to hit into a fielder’s choice to end the game. Philpot improved to 3-1 on the season.

The Aggies had no trouble out of the Tigers in the first game. The game was stopped in the fifth after the Aggies scored four runs in the fourth and five more in the fifth to set in motion the eight-run mercy rule. Tangala Conover led the Aggies in the first game by going 3-for-4 with six RBIs and a home run. Freshman Sherika Laughlin had two hits and three RBIs, and Hill added to her totals for the day by going 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

The Aggies return to action when they participate in the Charleston Southern Low Country Softball Invitational this weekend. The Aggies open Friday morning at 8:30 against UNC Wilmington. They play Charleston Southern Friday afternoon at 2:30.