NSU Stays Hot with 2 Wins over NC Central
CARY, N.C. -Norfolk State continued its winning ways with a pair of victories over North Carolina Central, 8-3, 8-2, Saturday afternoon in a non-conference doubleheader at Thomas Brooks Park.
NSU ran its win streak to 11 games, the longest in the Division I era, and broke the previous record of nine set in 2007. The all-time program mark stands at 18 accomplished in 1997, the team's final season in D-II.
The Spartans pounded out 28 hits on the afternoon as they improved to 21-23 overall on the season. The Eagles saw their record drop to 7-36.
Junior Casey Pomeroy (11-8) pitched four shutout innings to pick up the win in the first game and added a pair of RBI. Junior Whitney Holland hit 2-for-4 with one run and two RBI, while sophomore Gipsy Ramirez and freshman Morgan Boyd each added three hits. Pomeroy allowed three hits and struck out three, and junior Elizabeth Castaneda gave up three earned runs in the last three innings.
Freshman Jamie Schulle (6-9) gave up two earned runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts for the victory in Game 2. Holland, junior Danielle Wright and freshman Kathy Cortez each had a pair of RBI in the nightcap. Schulle added three hits in four at bats and also scored two runs to aid her cause.
Three errors on North Carolina Central in the first three at bats helped NSU take the early lead in the top of the first inning of Game 1. After Wright, Boyd and freshman Melina Valles reached on errors to score that first run, Holland and freshman Nikki Jones hit back-to-back singles to plate the next two runs and give the Spartans a 3-0 lead. Holland and Jones moved into scoring position with one out, and Pomeroy brought both home with a two-run double.
Pomeroy moved to third with two outs, and after Cortez walked, Wright hit an infield single to score Pomeroy. A bunt single by Boyd loaded the bases, but NC Central finally got out of the first inning when Valles flied out in the next at bat. NSU had done all the damage it needed, going up by a 6-0 score after that opening frame.
NSU threatened in the next two innings, including an RBI groundout by Holland in the third, but left two players on base each time. The Spartans stranded 10 runners all-together in the game. After junior Candice Vasquez hit an RBI double in the top of the sixth for an 8-0 lead, the Eagles stayed alive by tallying three runs in the bottom half of the frame.
The Eagles got no closer in the seventh, though, as the Spartans took Game 1. Kayla McPeek suffered the loss for NC Central, allowing 15 hits and five earned runs with three strikeouts in all seven innings.
The Eagles struck first in Game 2 in the first inning on a double by Andre Searls and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Cember Carmichael. NSU tied it right back up in the top of the second. Holland and Ramirez singled to put runners on first and second, and Schulle followed with a double to right field to score Holland. Cortez flied out to left field with the bases loaded to bring home Ramirez before McPeek got out of the inning.
Two innings later in the top of the fourth, Schulle hit her second double of the game to open the frame and came around to score when Cortez singled and advanced to second on an error on Searls. Wright doubled to score Cortez for a 4-2 lead, and a single by Holland into right field plated Wright and Boyd as NSU opened a 6-2 advantage.
The Spartans pushed home the last runs of the day with two more in the fifth. Ramirez walked and Schulle singled to put runners on the corners with no outs, and Vasquez followed with a single down the left field line as Ramirez crossed the plate. Two outs later, Wright also singled past third base to score Schulle for the final 8-2 margin.
Schulle stranded two Eagle runners on base in the bottom of the seventh to end the day's action. McPeek again took the loss, allowing 12 hits and seven earned runs in 4.2 innings.
For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com or www.nccueaglepride.com
Coppin State Sweeps Hampton
BALTIMORE -- Seniors Charma Robinson and Amber Miller made their final home games memorable as they combined to help lead Coppin State to a sweep of Hampton on Saturday clinching a berth in the MEAC Softball Tournament for the Eagles.
Miller hit a two-run homer in the Eagles 5-2 victory in the first game and Robinson delivered a game-winning double and drove in three runs as Coppin State completed the sweep with a 7-5 win in game two.
The two victories by Coppin State clinches a berth in the upcoming MEAC Tournament as the Eagles finished the conference season with a 9-6 record. CSU will have to wait to learn of its seeding position until the regular season concludes on Sunday.
The Eagles took an early lead in game one when Tiffani Whaley grounded out to score Paige Arnold from third base with the game's first run.
Miller then delivered a two-run home run to left in the bottom of the third inning that increased the Coppin State lead to 3-0.
The Eagles stretched the lead to 5-0 by scoring single runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
The lead was more than enough for Arnold as she allowed only six hits and no earned runs, while striking out seven batters to pick up the win.
The Eagles fell behind 4-0 in game two before staging a rally.
CSU scored three times in the bottom of the fourth inning to as Whaley, Erica Washington and Carmen Frazier all produced RBI.
Hampton countered in the top of the fifth inning with a run to increase the lead to 5-3.
Coppin State tied the score at 5-5 by scoring twice in the bottom of the fifth inning. Stacey Burgos singled to start the inning and Arnold followed with a triple scoring Burgos and cutting the lead to 5-4.
Robinson then produced an RBI groundout that scored Arnold and tied the game at 5-5.
The Eagles sixth-inning rally started with a single by Miller. Burgos followed with a double that put runners on second and third with no outs.
With one out, Robinson then delivered her game-winning double to left center that scored both Miller and Burgos and put the Eagles in front 7-5.
Arnold then retired the side, including striking out the final two hitters, in the top of the seventh inning to secure the victory.
With the sweep, the Eagles extended their winning streak to a school-record seven straight games.
For the complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com or www.hamptonpirates.com.
Lady Wildcats Grand Slam Aggies En Route To DH Sweep
GREENSBORO, N.C. - After escaping the opener with a 9-7 victory, Bethune-Cookman grand slammed its way to a 20-1 victory over North Carolina A&T Saturday to sweep a MEAC doubleheader and remain perfect in conference play.
Bethune-Cookman (27-23 overall, 11-0 MEAC South) got an Allison Garcia third-inning grand slam that keyed a 13-run outburst while Ashton Hinds ripped a fifth-inning grand slam that run-ruled the Aggies (7-34, 1-10).
Aurelia Gamch and Michele Banuelos-Smith added three-run homers as the Wildcats posted their highest offensive output of the season.
Garcia finished with 6 RBI. Gamch finished 3-4 with 4 RBI while Joana Hernandez went 3-4 with four runs scored.
In the opener, the Wildcats overcame six errors and got a clutch three-run homer from Garcia in the seventh inning to rally for the victory.
Hinds had a bases-loaded triple in B-CU's five-run fifth while Aurelia Gamch hit a solo homer and also had an RBI double. Simone Ceasar had two hits.
For the complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com or www.ncataggies.com
Lady Rattlers Bomb Lady Bulldogs
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (May 7) - Florida A&M picked up a pair of wins today as they blanked South Carolina State, 14-0 in game one and 8-0 in game two in a MEAC doubleheader, Saturday afternoon at the Lady Rattlers Softball Complex.
In game one, FAMU garnered game high 13 hits, while South Carolina State only managed one.
The Lady Rattlers were paced by Christina Robbs and Jennifer Lindsey as they both finished with three hits each.
Taylor-Anne Harris garnered the lone hit for the Lady Bulldogs.
Jennifer Lindsey got the win for FAMU as she gave up one hit and struck out three in three innings of work, while Raven Johnson received the loss as she gave up 10 hits and four earned runs in one and two-third innings of work.
FAMU grabbed a 10-0 lead after two complete innings of play. They scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning for the 14-0 final invoking the eight-run mercy rule.
In game two, FAMU (24-24, 7-4 MEAC) tallied 11 hits, while SCSU (10-41-3-8) garnered two hits.
Francesca Singletary led the Lady Rattlers from the plate as she went three-for-three from the plate, while both Sonya Giles and Harris garnered a hit each for the Lady Bulldogs.
Whitney Robinson picked up the win for FAMU as she gave up two hits and struck out five in five innings of work. Vianny Gomez received the loss for SCSU as she gave up 11 hits, six earned runs and struck out three in four innings of work.
The Lady Rattlers scored in the first four innings, scoring two in the bottom of the first, three in the second, one in the third and two in the four for the 8-0 final, invoking the eight-run run.
For the complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com or www.scsuathletics.com
Hornet Bats Spark Doubleheader Wins Over Morgan State
BALTIMORE, Md. - The Delaware State bats cranked out 23 hits and 17 runs as they defeated Morgan State, 11-4 in game one and 6-1 in game two, at Lois T. Murray Field Saturday afternoon.
Junior Jordan Reid led the effort for the Hornets once again as she went 6-for-9 (.667) from the plate with three runs scored, two RBI, two doubles, a triple and stolen base.
Senior Andrea Waters also had a successful day on the offensive end as she went 4-for-8 (.500) with four runs, one RBI, two doubles and three stolen bases. Additionally, junior Breanne Parr was 3-for-4 with three RBI and two doubles.
Tied at 2-2, DSU scored three runs on three hits and one error in the top of the fourth inning to take the lead for good over the Bears.
Freshman Ashley Davis led off the frame reaching on an error by shortstop Tiffany Rubin and eventually scored on a single from sophomore Skye Boris. Reid came up next and singled and advanced to second on the throw in while pinch runner Kelsey Lewis scored. Reid then scored on an RBI single from junior Rachel Carroll.
The Hornets struck again in the top of the sixth and seventh innings, scoring three runs in each.
Parr led off the top of the seventh with a single before senior Allison Rubin came in as a pinch runner. Rubin then scored off of a double from Reid. Junior Tawny Reeger pinch ran for Reid and scored when Waters doubled down the left field line. Waters advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored before the end of the frame to give DSU an 11-4 victory.
Freshman Ashlyn Campbell earned her eighth win of the season as she gave up six hits, four runs (all earned), and one walk while striking out one in 4.0 innings pitched.
Beighley threw a gem in game two, going 6.0 innings strong while giving up just one run on three hits to earn her eighth win of the year.
The Hornets scored a run in the first, third and fourth innings of the second game before posting another three-run inning in the sixth.
With two base runners on, Davis hit an RBI single to make things 4-1. Parr came up next and slugged a two-RBI double to go up, 6-1. With two outs, Reid tripled to right field before Waters grounded out to the pitcher to end the frame.
Freshman Stephanie Sarris closed out both games for DSU and pitched a total of 4.0 innings, giving up just three hits while striking out one.
For the complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com or www.morganstatebears.com
Johnson Homers Twice And Pitches One-Hitter In Final Home Series
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senior Emily Johnson led the Howard in their series opener against Maryland Eastern Shore, knocking out two home runs and holding UMES (7-39, 2-12 MEAC) to one hit to land HU (16-24, 7-7 MEAC) the 9-1 win.
Johnson opened and closed the first game with a home run and went 3-for-4 at the plate and tallied 3 RBI. Shortstop Rebecca Kirshner also came up big at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3.
Kirshner also tacked on 3 RBI of her own in HU's game-defining third inning on a triple, where she scored Johnson, centerfielder Lorae Robinson - both of which reached base on bunt singles - as well as Marisa Coats. Prior to Kirshner's triple, second baseman Trina Kindred led off the inning with a double and scored on Johnson's bunt. Kirshner and Ciera Gordon scored the final two runs of the six-run inning.
After being on pace to landing her first no-hitter of the season, UMES spoiled Johnson's run on the mound with their first hit of the game in the fifth inning. In the same inning, UMES scored their lone run of the game on the single, error and a wild pitch.
In all, Johnson finished the opening game with six strikeouts allowed one hit, one run and zero walks in her 5.2 innings of work.
In game two, Robinson got Howard on the board first with a grand slam, putting the Lady Bison up 4-0 in the second inning. Robinson's grand slam came in back-to-back series as she blasted one last weekend against Morgan State. Robinson went on to notch two additional hits in the remainder of the game.
Despite leading UMES four runs, the Lady Bison spent the rest of the game playing catch up to their MEAC opponent after allowing eight runs in the third inning. The Lady Bison rallied two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth, but were unable to overcome UMES's lead. Howard came up one run short as they dropped the game, 9-8.
Seniors Carly Martin and Johnson split the mound and each allowed five hits. Martin walked one, struck out two and was credited with the loss. Johnson struck out three batters and gave up two runs in her four innings in the circle.
For the complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com or www.howard-bison.com