NCCU Drops Doubleheader To Bethune-Cookman On Saturday

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.- Bethune-Cookman  defeated North Carolina Central 10-2 (game one) and 10-1 (game two) in a softball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.

Sophomores Nadia Jefferies, Shamika Chavis-Hodge and freshman Regina Diaz obtained one run apiece.  While senior Ashanti Stroud cracked two hits, as sophomore Nadia Jefferies and freshman Whitney Boykin gathered one hit apiece.

In game one of the doubleheader NCCU's Jefferies and Diaz obtained their two runs in the top of the fifth inning.  Jefferies went 1-for-1 on two times at bat.  Stroud batted her two hits during game one.  Also during her time at the plate she also captured a RBI.  Junior Nadia Moreta assisted with the Lady Eagles runs with one RBI.

Sophomore Kayla McPeek provided her 27th appearance on the mound for the Lady Eagles in game one.  McPeek faced 29 batters, she was able to strikeout one batter, while allowing eight hits and one run.

Michelle Banuelos-Smith led the Lady Wildcats runs with three.  Ashton Hinds and Simone Ceasar reached home plate twice each.  Hinds went 2-for-3 against McPeek and collected three RBIs, as Ceasar was 2-for-1 with one RBI.

Allison Garcia was the B-CU pitching choice for the opening contest.  In 5.0 innings, Garcia faced 21 batters and struck out four, while permitting four hits and two runs.

As a team, the Lady Wildcats amassed nine RBIs, eight hits and 10 runs in game one.

NCCU's Chavis-Hodge, who typically finds her action in the circle, obtained her first run of the season in game two, going 1-for-1 on one time at bat.  Moreta, sophomore Mae'Risha Watts and freshmen Amanda Bullock and Cember Carmichael cracked one run apiece.

Junior Aurora Baker pitched for the mighty maroon in the second contest of the afternoon.  She pitched 5.0 innings facing 29 batters.  Baker pitched three strikeouts and walked four Lady Wildcats, while allowing nine hits and 10 runs. 

Banuelos-Smith and Hinds continued to be B-CU's sluggers.  Banuelos-Smith went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and Hinds was 2-for-1 with one RBI.  Aurelia Gamch contributed to the offense going 2-for-2 with two RBIs.  Garcia moved from the mound to first base in game two, while at bat she sent three runners home.

Chastity Sanders pitched a complete game for the Lady Wildcats.  With 6.0 innings of play, Sanders struck out four batters and walked one, as she allowed five hits and one run against 26 NCCU batters. 

For the complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.bcuathletics.com

Lady Bison Split Doubleheader With Hampton

HAMPTON, VA. - The Lady Bison softball team faced off against MEAC rival Hampton and traded wins in the doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. Howard (13-22, 4-4 MEAC) dropped a close game to Hampton (11-26, 4-4 MEAC) in game one, 9-7, but stole the second game, to beat the Lady Pirates, 6-1.

In the first game Howard got off to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and scored another duo of runs in the third. Hampton caught up with the Lady Bison and grossed four runs in the bottom of the third to tie the game.

Howard bolted three runs in the fifth courtesy of Samantha Gatson who ignited a 3-run homer. The Lady Pirates matched Howard again with a home run of their own that brought in two runs and scored their third run of the inning on a wild pitch.

Gatson took over the pitching reigns following the Pirate homer from Carly Martin. Martin - the reigning MEAC Pitcher of the Week - struck out four batters, walked two and allowed ten hits before leaving the game.

Howard remained scoreless the remainder of the game, helping Hampton to secure the win following their two runs scored in the bottom of the sixth.

Gatson struck out two batters, walked one and kept the Pirates hitless. Meanwhile at the plate, Rebecca Kirshner led the Bison with three hits.

Game two proved to hold a different atmosphere as Emily Johnson set the tone of the game with a leadoff home run. The Lady Bison went on to outhit Hampton 11-2.

Johnson finished the game with the most hits (3) while Marissa Coats and Christine Sborz added two hits each. Coats led the team with four RBI.

Gatson made her second appearance of the day, striking out three batters and allowed one walk.

For the complete story www.howard-bison.com or www.hamptonpirates.com

NSU Gets Back on Track over S.C. State, 4-1, 4-3

NORFOLK, Va. -Norfolk State got back into the winning column with a pair of wins over conference rival South Carolina State, 4-1, 4-3, Saturday in a doubleheader at the NSU Softball Field.

Junior Casey Pomeroy shut down the Bulldog offense in Game 1, giving up just one unearned run on six hits with eight strikeouts in seven full innings. Game 2 went into extra innings, but freshman Kathy Cortez hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth to bring home the winning run for NSU.

The Spartans improved to 10-20 on the season and 3-5 in the MEAC. NSU leapfrogged S.C. State for third place in the Southern Division, as the Bulldogs fell to 7-36, 2-6.

Pomeroy earned her fifth win of the season in Game 1, while Cortez added two RBI. Raven Johnson (3-18) took the loss as she failed to get out of the first inning, allowing two runs and two hits in 0.1 innings. She was pulled for Vianney Gomez, who pitched the other 5.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits.

Freshman Nikki Jones added a pair of RBI in Game 2, while fellow rookie Jamie Schulle (2-8) earned the victory in relief, pitching 4.2 scoreless innings. Gomez (4-18) suffered the loss, giving up four runs, three earned, on 11 hits.

The Bulldogs left 11 batters on base in the game, while the Spartans stranded 10.

The Spartans struck early in the first game, as freshman Melina Valles doubled home freshman Morgan Boyd with one out. Gomez quickly came in to relieve Johnson and served up a single to junior Whitney Holland. Two batters later, junior Candice Vasquez reached on a fielding error on the S.C. State second baseman to score Valles for the second run of the game. Gomez retired the next two batters to get out of the bases loaded jam. NSU left nine batters on base in the game.

Senior Jeanette Sauceda singled to lead off the bottom of the third, and after Pomeroy lined a single into left field, the two runners moved into scoring position on an NSU groundout. Cortez then hit a two-run single to left-center field to bring home both runners and give NSU a 4-0 lead.

The Bulldogs stranded a pair of runners in the sixth inning, then finally pushed a run across in the top of the seventh. Back-to-back singles to start the frame were followed by a single to center off the bat of Gomez. Wright, though, gunned down Shannon Baity at home for the first out of the inning. One out later, Sonya Giles scored on a throwing error on the Spartans, but Pomeroy retired the last batter of the game for the win.

After the Bulldogs hit an RBI single for a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning, NSU put a trio of runs on the board in the bottom half of the frame. Junior Danielle Wright singled with one out, stole second and went to third on the throwing error on the Bulldog catcher. A wild pitch allowed Wright to score, and after Gomez got the second out of the inning, the Spartans continued to pile up the hits.

Holland singled before Sauceda launched a double over the left fielder's head to put runners in scoring position. Jones then blooped a single to center field to score Sauceda and Holland and give the Spartans the lead back, 3-1.

S.C. State, though, tied it back up in the top of the fourth as Kelsey Grochow singled to lead things off. Another single and a walk loaded the bases before Tonya Giles received a free pass to bring home Grochow. LaTavia Riley singled into left field to tie it at 3-3, but Schulle entered the game and got the lead runner out at home when Baity attempted a squeeze bunt. Schulle then forced Sonya Giles to ground to third to end the threat.

The Spartans threatened in the sixth inning, loading the bases on three straight hits with no outs. Sophomore Gipsy Ramirez was thrown out at home by the Bulldog second baseman for the first out, and then S.C. State pulled a 1-2-3 double play to get out of the inning.

With a runner on second to open the eighth inning, Schulle struck out Stevenson for the first out, but Stevenson reached on a wild pitch. NSU, though, got Kindrea McNeil in a rundown between second and third for the first out as Stevenson got to second on the play. Denitia Carter grounded one to Holland at third, and Valles threw out Stevenson at third to complete the double play.

Jones started off the bottom of the eighth at second, and went to third on a sac bunt by Schulle. Ramirez hit a pop-up that landed in between the second baseman and pitcher thanks to a strong wind that played havoc for the fielders in Game 2. Jones was forced to stay at third on the play, but Cortez made it null and void when she lofted a sacrifice fly down the left field line to score Jones.

For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com or www.scsuathletics.com

Lady Rattlers Sweep North Carolina A&T

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 16)- Florida A&M defense held North Carolina A&T scoreless in two games as they swept the Lady Aggies in a MEAC doubleheader as they won game one 5-0 and game two 8-0 in six and two-third innings, here Saturday afternoon at the Moore-Kittles Field.

In game one, FAMU (22-20, 5-1) finished the game with six hits, while N.C. A&T (6-25, 1-5 MEAC) tallied two.

Whitney Robinson led the Lady Rattlers from the plate as she tallied two hits in three at-bats, scoring two runs and driving in one, while both Morgan Chappell and Lauren Clement finished with a hit each for the Lady Aggies.

Jennifer Lindsey (9-9), who retired the first 12 batters that she faced before yielding a hit in the top of the fifth inning, picked up the win for the Lady Rattlers as she gave up two hits, and striking out seven out seven in seven innings of play.

Tranea Jones received the loss for the Lady Aggies as she gave up six hits, four earned runs and striking out two in five and one-third innings.

FAMU took a 2-0 lead into the  bottom of the fifth inning as Lady Rattlers collected three runs on back-to-back home runs  by  Robinson and Brittany Doty.   Lindsey would score on a Lady Aggie throwing errors, for the 5-0 final.

In game two, the Lady Rattlers garnered 12 hits, while the Lady Aggies finished with eight.

Francesca Singletary led FAMU in hits as she went a perfect four-for-four from the plate, scoring two runs and driving in two runs.

N.C. A&T had three Lady Aggies to finish with three hits each in Ryanne Hill, Sabrina Edmond and Tranea Jones.

Whitney Robinson (12-10) picked up the win for the Lady Rattlers as she pitched six scoreless inning allowing eight hits and striking out five, while Lauren Clement (0-3) took the loss for the N.C. A&T as she gave up 12 hits and four earned runs in five and two-third innings.

FAMU took the early lead in the bottom of the first Singletary tripled down the left field line scoring Ashanti Shepherd.   Singletary would then score on a Lady Aggie infielder's error.  Then both Robinson and Arianna Stewart would score on a Genesis Lopez single, giving FAMU a 4-0 lead.

The Lady Rattlers would score two more runs in their half of the fifth and sixth inning as Singletary scored on a Stewart single up the middle, followed by a Doty double scoring Stewart in the bottom of the fifth inning. 

Then FAMU would use a pair of singles to score both Jasmin Donaldson and Christina Robbs as Donaldson scored on a Robbs single and Robbs would score on a Robinson single to right center for the 8-0 win, invoking the eight-run mercy rule.

For the complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com or www.ncataggies.com