CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride) - The North Carolina Central University softball team showed their appreciation to head coach Theresa Stephens' efforts to secure a local venue after Thomas Brooks Park became unavailable with the first two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference wins of the season over the Lady Hawks of Maryland Eastern Shore in Chapel Hill, N.C., at the Anderson Softball Complex on the UNC Chapel Hill campus on Tuesday, March 20. 

Lady Eagle sophomore Cember Carmichael tallied a team-high two homeruns, while junior Shakemia Edwards notched six RBI for a 6-2 and 13-7 victory.

Tuesday's doubleheader advances NCCU to 2-0 in the conference and snaps a 26-game losing streak.

NCCU junior Bianka Molina pitched a complete game, where she struck out a season-high nine batters, while facing 26 batters in spite of permitting four hits and two runs.  Edwards finished the opening matchup with three hits and four RBI, as Batie notched two runs and three hits and Carmichael whacked a homer.

Gurrola also pitched a complete game for her Maryland-based team.  She struck out one batter, while allowing 11 hits and six runs.

NCCU sealed the doubleheader with the highest number of runs thus far on the season with 13 for a 13-7 game two victory.

As UMES began the second contest without a run, NCCU quickly paced to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

Bottom teams went three-up-three-down in the second inning, nonetheless, UMES shook up the mighty maroon defense with four runs to tie the contest 4-4 in the top of the third. 

Lady Eagle senior Aurora Baker pitched a complete game in the second matchup.  In 7.0 innings of play, Baker struck out six Lady Hawks, as she permitted nine hits and seven runs against 31 batters.  Carmichael led the batting campaign with two runs, two hits and five RBI on three times at bat, as Searls tallied three runs and three hits.

Gurrola, who pitched her second complete game for UMES, finished with two strikeouts, and the allowance of 14 hits and 13 runs.  Leftfielder Morgan King notched one run, three hits and three RBI.

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

Bethune-Cookman Sweeps Towson in Doubleheader

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Aurelia Gamch hit a walk-off three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning of the opening game, then Shanel Tolbert threw a four-hit shutout in the second as Bethune-Cookman swept Towson 3-2,1-0 Tuesday at Sunnyland Park.

Gamch's first homer of the season came after Amari Foster doubled and Calesha Shelley doubled for the dramatic finish as the Wildcats (12-20) went on to win their fifth and sixth straight while snapping a three-game Tiger (13-13) winning streak.

Tolbert walked one and struck out three for the win in the second game. B-CU's lone run came when Gamch scored on a wild pitch in the first.

For the complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com