GREENSBORO, N.C., February 19, 2005 – Brooke Wooten scored the first run. Lorraine Geiger earned the first hit, Sylvia Felder had the first RBI and more importantly the N.C. A&T softball team away with the first win ever at its new facility – Lady Aggies Softball Complex.

Felder finished the afternoon with two hits, a run scored and four RBI to lead the Lady Aggies to a 6-1 win over Morgan State on Saturday.

Latronda Anderson pitched seven strong innings, striking out six and surrending just one run, to earn her first win of the season. The second game of the doubleheader was postponed because of darkness.

The Lady Aggies broke open the first game in the second inning. Anderson led off with an infield single.

Wooten replaced her as a pinch-runner. One out later, Christina Brock walked. Brock’s walk set the table for Felder, who blasted a triple in the left-center field gap, scoring Wooten and Brock.

After Adia Dial flied out to second, Geiger plated Felder with a single to right, giving the Lady Aggies a 3-0 lead.

Felder picked up RBI No. 3 the following inning on two-out single beyond the reach of diving Jessica Scott at shortstop to score Chaola Simmons from third. Felder’s other RBI came in the fifth.

LADY AGGIES PLAY FIRST SOFTBALL GAME AT NEW FIELD

Lady Aggies Softball Complex opens Saturday

GREENSBORO, N.C., February 18, 2005 – Workers are putting the final touches on the new home of the N.C. A&T softball team. Lady Aggies Softball Complex will be the host site for the Lady Aggies for the first time on Saturday as they welcome the Morgan State Lady Bears.

In the past, the Lady Aggies have played their home games off campus at Levette Field.

“I think this is a big step forward for our program,’’ Lady Aggies softball coach Mamie Jones said. “To have an opportunity to play our games on-campus is a nice feature for my student-athletes, a great addition to the overall scenery of the campus and it will hopefully help us in our recruiting.”

The complex is adjacent to Aggie Stadium. It comes complete with bullpens, wide dugouts and a new scoreboard.

The Lady Aggies Softball Complex will be dedicated on April 8 at noon before the Aggies take on the Florida A&M Lady Ratters in a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.

In the last eight months, N.C. A&T’s facility upgrades have included a new state-of-the-art track, new luxury seating and floor for Corbett Gymnasium and the new softball field.

LADY AGGIES READY FOR 2005 SEASON

Greensboro, N.C., February 5, 2005, - The 2005 edition of the N.C. A&T softball team has something to look forward to this season: a true home field advantage. The Aggie Softball Complex will be opened this season, finally giving the Lady Aggies a true home field. However, to take advantage of the new confines, N.C. A&T will have to improve on last year's 19-36 record, including 9-10 at Levette Field, the team's former host site.

Head coach Mamie Jones feels that she has the talent to compete within the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, but figures it will take some time with the return of a young team that is still learning how to win. Once the team gains confidence, the Lady Aggies will have to overcome a formidable MEAC South Division in the race for the 2005 MEAC Tournament Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Last season N.C. A&T struggled to score runs, largely due to a .231 batting average with runners in scoring position. That has to change in order for the Lady Aggies to compete with the elite teams of the MEAC.

"Hitting takes patience, but selective hitting takes more," said Jones. "But in the off season and this fall, we worked on our timing and strength with our hitters, and I expect us to be much better offensively."

"Our non-conference schedule and early tournaments should prepare us for MEAC games. If we execute against our non-conference opponents, we should be able to do the same against the MEAC."

The majority of the offense will come from junior P/OF Latronda Anderson, who led all regular starters in batting average (.269), total bases (47), triples (3), and RBI (24). She also connected for three home runs. Another key factor will be senior 1B/P Lorraine Geiger, a free-swinging hitter who led the team with 36 hits and 18 walks. Look for senior OF Latoya Lassiter and sophomore C/2B Tabitha Veney to cause problems for opponents with their speed. Lassiter scored a team high 25 runs, while Veney scored 22 runs, walked 17 times, and stole a team high nine bases.

In order to give the lineup time to gel, the pitching staff must be consistent in the early portion of the schedule. All three starters return from last season, led by Anderson (10-22, 3.98 ERA, 136 K), a Second Team All-MEAC selection. Geiger (6-6, 5.31 ERA, 27 K) and sophomore Adia Dial (2-8, 7.17 ERA, 27 K) also return.

"Anderson is arguably the best softball pitcher I've coached," Jones said." She has as good of an arm as anybody in the country and has the desire to win games. "However, to contend inside and out of the conference, our other starters must be consistent."

CATCHER

Junior Christina Brock returns for her second season as one of the Lady Aggie catchers. Brock was injury-plagued last season, managing just 87 at-bats in 37 games. Coach Jones expects a breakout season offensively from Brock, who hit .256 in 2003. Brock is one of the most reliable defenders, as her career .955 fielding percentage can attest.

Brock's injuries opened the door for Tabitha Veney to step in and become a solid catcher. Veney caught two shutouts from Anderson last season and has invaluable experience. She will interchange with Brock for situational purposes.

FIRST BASE

Lorraine Geiger will hold down first base for her third season as a starter. Geiger is a strong right-hander with plenty of power, demonstrated by her eight career home runs. She also recorded the team's best fielding percentage, .980, last season.

SECOND BASE

Veney came into her own as a starter at second base. Her speed and range are great assets to the Lady Aggie pitching staff. Adia Dial batted a MEAC Tournament high .667 while playing second base during the six games, en route to All-MEAC Tournament honors. She has great experience and is expected to improve as the season wears on.

SHORTSTOP

With the graduation of starter Crystal Taylor, Latoya Lassiter and newcomer Sylvia Felder will compete for the vacant position. Lassiter, who started her career as a shortstop three seasons ago, is a defensive specialist who has a strong arm. Felder, the team's lone out of state recruit, will bring some offensive punch to the position.

THIRD BASE

Senior Sibol Loftin returns to man the "hot corner" for the Lay Aggies. Loftin, a four year starter, will be a key presence in the lineup, as she will look to increase her totals of two extra base hits and 20 RBI from last season.

OUTFIELD

Junior Renecia Lovelace, a reserve for her first two seasons, will take one of the three outfield position. Lovelace played well during her appearances last season, and has parlayed a year of hard work into a starting nod.

Jessica Cooper and Victoria Jackson, two power hitters that will make an impact in the batting order, will compete with newcomer Chaola Simmons and Christie Davis for the other positions.

PITCHING STAFF

Latronda Anderson is the ace of the staff and is poised to become the best ever at N.C. A&T and one of the leaders in the MEAC. She pitched 200.1 innings last season, or roughly two-thirds of all the innings played. Anderson had a 3:1 strikeout to walk ratio, and pitched five shutouts with two no-hitters in 2004.

Lorraine Geiger and Adia Dial will share the number two spot in the rotation. Both struck out 27 batters apiece in a combined 42 appearances.