Hill remains hot with homer and four RBIs

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GREENSBORO, March 19, 2009 – Sophomore Ryanne Hill has established herself as the run provider for the North Carolina A&T softball team. She had another stellar day on Thursday as she helped the Aggies split a doubleheader with Appalachian State. The Mountaineers won the first game 2-1 in nine innings, while the Aggies took the second game 9-4.

Hill provided the Aggies with their only run in the first game with her third home run of the season. In the second game she was 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored. Daniell Nguyen added three hits and two RBIs in the second game.

The Aggies broke opened up a 3-3 game in the third. Lillian Bullock walked to start the inning, which was followed by a Jessie Larson double. It was Larson’s fourth double in three games. Bullock scored on the play to give the Aggies a 4-3 lead. After Nguyen reached on an infield single, Jennifer Luper walked to load the bases with two outs.

It was a perfect situation for the Aggies leader in RBIs. Hill stepped up and singled up the middle to score Larson and Nguyen to pull the Aggies ahead 6-3. Tangie Conover followed with another single to score Luper and give the Aggies a 7-3 lead.

The Mountaineers would add a run in the fourth before the Aggies widened their lead even more. Bullock led off the fourth with a single and moved to second on a passed ball. Larson walked and Britney Reddick moved the runners into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt.

Nguyen came through again by singling down the right field line to score Bullock and Larson for a five-run Aggies lead. Head coach Mamie Jones turned to Luper to close out the game on the mound. Luper did not allow the Mountaineers a hit over the three innings she pitched. The only base runners the Mountaineers put on base over the final three innings of the game came off of an error and a walk. Starter Sasha Philpot improved to 5-4 on the season.

In the first game, Luper was just as dominant on the mound but took the loss. With the game still scoreless in the seventh, however, Luper gave up a home run to Price. But Hill stepped up and recorded the Aggies only hit of the game by hitting a home run to left field. The Mountaineers won the game in the ninth on a sacrifice fly.  

Luper dropped to 6-6 on the season. Meanwhile, Hill leads the Aggies in all the power numbers. She is batting .385 with a team-leading three home runs, 26 RBIs and eight doubles. The Aggies are back in action Wednesday afternoon at 2 against UNC Greensboro at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex.