GREENSBORO - There was a time in November when North
Carolina A&T head softball coach Mamie Jones didn't know if she would even
have senior Tiffany Macklin to open the 2013 season.
But she entered the game at second base on Monday against
Maryland Eastern Shore in the fourth inning for an injured Zebresha Blakeney.
In the seventh inning, she hit a game-winning two-run RBI single to center
field to lead the Aggies to an 11-10 win over UMES in the North Carolina
A&T Softball Invitational at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex. The win over
UMES was a continuation of a 7-4 game that was suspended the day before because
of darkness in the fourth inning.
"What do you say about a kid like Tiffany who made such a
contribution like this so early in the season?" Jones said. "She missed most of
(last semester), so for her to come back like this, I'm very proud of her."
Macklin broke her ankle three months ago. She missed the
majority of the fall workouts, but during the Holiday break she rehabbed
fervently in order to make it back by February. The Aggies needed her presence.
The Aggies served as the visitors at their own ballpark against UMES (3-4) because
the tournament format allows each team to serve as the home team a certain
number of times.
A&T (1-2) entered the visitor's seventh trailing 10-9.
With one out, UMES shortstop Chelsea Alston mishandled a Raven Smith groundball
to start the Aggies rally. Freshman Kimberly Brunson followed with a single to
right field to put runners at first and second.
UMES pitcher Carmen Gurrola, who opened on the mound Monday
for Sunday starter Belen Benitez, struck out Haley Snyder to put the Hawks an
out away from victory. Macklin changed those plans by hitting Gurrola's 1-0
pitch to center field to score Smith and Brunson to give the Aggies the lead.
The Hawks put the tying run in scoring position in the
bottom of the seventh. But A&T freshman pitcher Janika May (1-1) got UMES
third baseman Tranese Nash to pop out to Macklin at second base to end the game
and the invitational.
Earlier in the day,
the Aggies lost 3-0 to St. Francis as they went 1-2 in the invitational. Ashira
Dobison had a no-hitter going after five before the Red Flash picked up its
first hit on a Samantha Thomas single up the middle in the sixth. Davina
Kachnovitz then ended the Dobison shutout with a double down the left field
line to score Thomas. Chelsy Cosentino followed with a single that scored
Kachnovitz. An Aggies throwing error led to another Red Flash (2-5) run as
Sabrie Neeb reached and Kate Blattenberge singled to score Cosentino for a
three-run lead.
Red Flash starter Ketarah Devries retired the Aggies in
order in the seventh to finish the invitational 3-1.
"Ashira pitched a very good game," said Jones. "I was
pleased with the fact that she gave us a chance to win. We lost the game on
errors, but she did her job. She offered us the leadership we're looking to get
from her."
When the Aggies returned to the field to complete their game
against UMES, Jax Kaye Woodard greeted Gurrola with a two-run home that gave A&T
a 9-4 lead. The Hawks rallied with five runs in their half of the fourth as
Benitez hit a two-run triple to tie the game at 9. In the fifth, the Hawks took
the lead on a Morgan King triple to center field that scored Gurrola, setting
up Macklin's heroics. Woodard went 5-for-10 with two home runs and four RBI
during the invitational.
"Overall, I thought it was a good tournament," said Jones. "I
know the weather set us back. But once it started, I thought it well. We had
some good teams here and the play was excellent."
Canisius (6-1) won the invitational by going 4-0. The
all-tournament team is as follows: Alejandra Barcenas (A&T), Jen Consaul
(Canisius), Chelsy Cosentino (St. Francis), Bethany DeMarco (Canisius), Morgan
King (UMES), Sabrie Neeb (St. Francis), Taylor Parsons (St. Francis), Stephanie Pfentner (Canisius), Jax Kay Woodard
(A&T).
The Aggies return to action on March 1 when they play in the
Wolfpack Invitational at N.C. State.
