Carter hits .333 for the day

Box Score vs. Lipscomb
Box Score vs. CSU
Box Score vs. UNCW
CHARLESTON, S.C., March 6, 2009 – The North Carolina A&T lost a heartbreaking extra innings game to Lipscomb to open the day at the Charleston Southern Softball Invitational, and then saw their offense struggle the rest of the way.

The Aggies lost to Lipscomb 6-2 in extra innings Saturday morning. They also lost to Charleston Southern 8-0 and to UNC Wilmington 5-0 to conclude the invitational. The Aggies are 8-8 on the season.

N.C. A&T ace Jennifer Luper and Christen Campbell put together a pitcher’s duel over the first seven innings of he game. Luper entered extra innings having not surrendered a run in her last 14 innings. Also over the first seven innings of Saturday’s game against the Bison, Luper allowed just five hits, struck out five and had not walked a batter.

But the Bison opened the eighth with pinch runner Whitney Kiihnl on second base. Mollie Mitchell advanced Kiihnl to third on a single. Mackenzie Tucker broke open the scoreless tie with an RBI single to right field to score Kiihnl. Lauren Dortwegt followed with another single to put runners on first and second.

A RBI sacrifice fly by Courtney Billington scored Tucker on a bad throw to give the Bison a 2-0 lead. Kellie Sirus singled home Tucker for a 3-0 Bison advantage. But the biggest blow of the inning came from Abby Keese. Keese hit a three-run homer off of Luper to put the Aggies in a six-run hole.  

The Aggies tried to rally in the home of half of the eighth. Bianca Alsobrook was placed on second. Britney Reddick moved her to third with a single, but was thrown out trying to go to second by the Bison center fielder.

Alsobrook would score on a fielding error that allowed Yahamma White to reach base. Ashley Carter replaced her on the base pads by reaching on a fielder’s choice. Ryanne Hill then stepped up and hit an RBI double to score Carter to move the Aggies to within four runs. But Campbell struck out Tangala Conover to end the game.

The Aggies will be back in action 1 p.m., Wednesday against Gardner-Webb from the Lady Aggies Softball Complex.