CSU's Arnold leads Lady Eagles Past Maryland Eastern Shore
BALTIMORE -- Junior Paige Arnold picked up a pair of victories on the mound and also drove in five runs leading Coppin State to a doubleheader sweep of Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday at the Coppin State Field.
The Eagles captured the first game 6-0 and completed the sweep with a 14-0 victory in game two. Coppin State raised its record to 12-14 overall and 5-6 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
Arnold and Tiffani Whaley combined to blank the Hawks in game one and Arnold pitched a one-hit shutout in the second game. For the doubleheader she allowed just three hits in 10 innings and struck out 15 batters.
Arnold was 2-for-3 with an RBI in game one and then went 3-for-3 with four RBI in the second game.
Freshman Heather Josker had three hits and three runs driven in during the doubleheader and Jade Dudley, Whaley and Patrice Williams each had two RBI.
The Eagles erupted for a season-high 14 hits and 14 runs in the second game to back the pitching of Arnold.
Coppin State scored three times in the second inning and two times in the third inning to take control of the opener and then used a nine-run third inning to cruise to the game-two victory.
Maryland Eastern Shore dropped to 6-36 overall and 2-10 in the MEAC with the doubleheader loss.
For the complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com or www.coppinstatesports.com
SC State Split Non-Conference Doubleheader with North Carolina Central
Orangeburg, S.C.- SC State split a non-conference doubleheader with North Carolina Central, 4-5 and 3-1. The Lady Bulldogs honored seniors Denitia Carter and Tonya Giles in a pre-game ceremony held at Hillcrest Field in Orangeburg.
SC State (9-39) struck first in both games of the doubleheader. In Game One the Lady Bulldogs scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning. North Carolina Central (7-33) bats game to life in the top of the fourth inning as they put up three runs to take the one run advantage at 3-2. The Lady Eagles put up two additional runs in the top of the fifth to go ahead by three, 5-2. SC State scored two runs of in the bottom of the sixth but came up short in the end falling in Game One 5-4.
The Lady Bulldogs began Game Two very aggressive scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. SC State played solid defense throughout the remainder of the game as they allowed just two runs by North Carolina Central (1 in the second and 1 in the seventh) en route to its 3-2 Game Two victory.
Junior Raven Johnson went 1-1 on the mound for the Lady Bulldogs while freshman Vianney Gomez picked up the save in Game Two. Kayla McPeek and Shamika Hodge-Chavis were credited with the win and loss in Game One and Two respectively, for North Carolina Central.
For the complete story, visit www.scsuathletics.com or www.nccueaglepride.com
Sauceda, Pomeroy Shine as NSU Sweeps N.C. A&T
NORFOLK, Va. - Junior Casey Pomeroy pitched a complete game shutout, and senior Jeanette Sauceda added three hits on the afternoon as the Norfolk State swept North Carolina A&T, 1-0, 12-1, Saturday on Senior Day at the NSU Softball Field.
Prior to Game 1, the Spartans honored those two players for their dedication to the softball program - Pomeroy is forgoing her senior season and graduating a year early - then battled it out with the Aggies in a tight first game before NSU's bats exploded in the second game, including a seven-run second inning. NSU improved to 18-23 overall, 5-6 in the MEAC and ran its win streak to eight games. The Spartans locked up a spot in the MEAC tournament with the wins.
Pomeroy (9-8) gave up just three hits with three strikeouts in seven innings in Game 1. The Aggies (7-31, 1-7 MEAC) got just one runner in scoring position the entire game. In Game 2, Sauceda added two hits and two runs scored, while junior Whitney Holland and freshman Melina Valles each added three RBI. Junior Danielle Wright went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI and hit her seventh home run of the year.
Freshman Nikki Jones scored the lone run of the contest in Game 1 in the bottom of the fourth, as A&T pitcher Hope Fletcher (6-13) gave up just one unearned run on five hits in six innings. Freshman Jamie Schulle (5-9) gave up one unearned on three hits with six strikeouts in all five innings in the second game for the win. Tranea Jones picked up the loss, allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits in 1.1 innings.
NSU left a pair of runners on base in the first and second innings as the day's action got underway, including runners on second and third in the opening frame. In the fourth, Jones doubled to left center with one out, and sophomore Gipsy Ramirez lined a 3-1 pitch into center field in the next at bat. Dominique Smith misplayed the ball out in center which allowed Jones to score. Fletcher retired the next two batters to get out of the inning, but NSU got all it needed as Pomeroy retired nine of the last 11 batters in the final three frames.
After A&T scored its lone run of the day in the top of the first in Game 2, NSU doubled its output from the first game with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Wright led off the inning and lined the very first pitch she saw to right field as the ball bounced off the top of the fence and fell onto the other side for Wright's fourth leadoff home run of the season.
Freshman Morgan Boyd singled and advanced to third on a groundout, and then Sauceda singled between short and third to score Boyd for the 2-1 lead. A fielding error put Ramirez on base to start the seven-run second, and after freshman Kathy Cortez singled into left field to put runners on the corners with one out, Wright also singled between third and short to score Ramirez. After Fletcher came in to pitch, Boyd laid down a bunt single to load the bases.
Valles cleared the bases with a single into the left-center field gap and after Sauceda reached on another A&T error, Holland launched a deep home run to center field to make it 9-1 in favor of the Spartans. Ramirez came back up with two outs and singled back up the middle but was thrown out at home when junior Candice Vasquez doubled into left center in the next at bat.
The Spartans later added three more runs in the fourth. Sauceda doubled to open the frame, and back-to-back walks to freshman Alexa Fleming and Pomeroy loaded the bases. Vasquez lined one into center field to score Fleming and Sauceda, and a fielder's choice off the bat of Cortez scored Pomeroy for the final 12-1 margin.
The Aggies threatened in the fifth, putting runners on the corners, but Schulle got Juanita Jernigan to fly out to deep left center for the final out of the game.
Cortez finished 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI in the second game, while Vasquez went 2-for-2 with two RBI. Boyd also added two hits and two runs scored in Game 2 and stole a pair of bases on the day.
For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com or www.ncataggies.com
Reid Shines As DSU Splits Doubleheader With Hampton
DOVER, Del. - Junior Jordan Reid (Accokeek, Md.) continues to state her case for Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Year as she hit .875 Saturday afternoon in a 7-1 first game loss to Hampton and a 7-1 victory in game two for Delaware State at the Hornets' Nest.
Reid went 7-for-8 on the day with two doubles, one run, one RBI and one stolen base. She posted half of the Hornets' hits in game one as the team tallied a total of six hits.
The Lady Pirates made their onslaught in the top of the second inning, recording six runs on four hits and one error en route to a 7-1 game one victory.
DSU bats came alive in game two, scoring seven runs on nine hits and one HU error.
The Hornets' big inning came in the third when Reid led off the frame with a double down the right field line. Senior Andrea Waters (Anchorage, Alaska) singled to left field and then stole second to put DSU runners on second and third with no outs.
Junior Rachel Carroll then hit a two-RBI single to left field to score Reid and Waters and give the Hornets a 3-0 lead. Carroll proceeded to score on a single up the middle from senior Janelle Lukens to go up 4-0.
DSU scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to go up 6-0 off of a double by sophomore Skye Boris and single from Reid.
The Lady Pirates broke up the shutout in the top of the sixth with a single by Nina Ferguson, who eventually scored on a double from Sharde' Estep to make things 6-1.
Reid led off the bottom of the sixth for the Hornets with another double, this time to left field. Senior Allison Rubin came in as a pinch runner for Reid and stole third before scoring on a wild pitch.
Freshman Stephanie Sarris earned her eighth win of the year, giving up four hits and one earned run while striking out two in 6.1 innings pitched.
With the split, DSU's record improves to 26-16 overall and 8-3 in the MEAC while the Lady Pirates move to 13-31 and 6-5.
For the complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com or www.hamptonpirates.com
Six Bison Homer in Wins over Morgan State
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Howard took down Morgan State on Saturday's doubleheader winning game one, 7-4, and game two, 13-5. Six members of the Lady Bison (15-22, 6-5 MEAC) blasted a home run in the doubleheader giving HU a pair of wins.
Christine Sborz was the first HU player to knock one out of the park, as she brought in three runs in the first inning, following an RBI single by Marisa Coats earlier in the inning, pushing Howard to a 4-0 lead.
Shortstop Rebecca Kirshner blasted the Bison's second homer in the sixth inning. Kirshner went 2-for-4 in the opening game, scored three times and recorded two RBI.
MSU (14-23, 7-4 MEAC) got back on the board with three runs, courtesy of a single and a home run of their own at the top of the third, leaving them one run behind Howard. The Lady Bison however, never surrendered their lead, and immediately responded to the Bears in the bottom of the third with a run.
Samantha Gatson and Emily Johnson split the mound as Gatson recorded the win while Johnson garnered the save. Gatson pitched the first three innings and allowed four hits, three runs and struck out one. Johnson pitched the remaining four innings, allowed three hits, one run and struck out six batters. Neither pitcher surrendered a walk.
In game two, Howard posted four homers and doubled the Bears in hits, 12-6. The Lady Bison got off to another big lead with four runs in the bottom of the first on four hits. Center fielder Lorae Robinson got on base first with a bunt single and went on to steal second. Coats doubled to bring Robinson home, and scored following a single by Kirshner. Immediately following Kirshner was Ciera Gordon who posted Howard's third homer of the day.
In the second inning, Morgan State responded with three runs along with their first homer of the game. Howard was silenced in the second when it was their turn at the plate, but went on to score runs in each of the remaining four frames.
In the third inning both Trina Kindred and Johnson blasted home runs and Coats followed suit in the bottom of the sixth to end the game and give HU their second win of the day.
Martin was given the win as she struck out two, allowed two runs and two hits. Johnson who started off the game, also struck out two and gave up three runs and four hits.
For the complete story, visit www.howard-bison.com and www.morganstatebears.com