North Carolina A&T Tops South Carolina State, 4-3
GREENSBORO - North Carolina A&T power hitter Juanita Jernigan hit a two-out walk-off single in the seventh inning to lead the Aggies to a 4-3 come-from-behind win over S.C. State Sunday afternoon in MEAC softball action at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex. Jernigan's hit helped the Aggies (10-18, 3-0 MEAC) complete a three-game sweep of the Bulldogs (11-18, 0-3).
The hit came despite Jernigan finding herself behind in the count after fouling off the first three pitches S.C. State starter Vianney Gomez threw with massive swings. With the bases loaded, all Jernigan needed was a base hit to end the game.
The Bulldogs took a 3-1 lead in the sixth when Kandy Ranew launched a home run to left field on a 1-0 pitch from A&T starter Ashira Dobison. Gomez retired the Aggies in order in the home half of the sixth inning to leave A&T three outs away from defeat.
Jernigan, Detavia Kenan and Alexandria McAfee had two hits apiece. Ashira Dobison (9-11) picked up the win after striking out four over seven innings. Tranea Jones hit her third home run of the season. It was a solo shot to left field that gave A&T a 1-0 lead in the fourth.
For the complete story, visit www.ncataggies.com or www.scsuathletics.com
Lady Bears Softball Sweeps Bowie State, 15-7 and 7-1
BALTIMORE, Md. (April 1, 2012)- Morgan State swept Division II state foe Bowie State in a non-conference doubleheader, 15-7 in five innings and 7-1 on Sunday afternoon at Lois T. Murray Field.
The victory was the Lady Bears' (7-13) second doubleheader sweep of the season and their first since taking two against North Carolina A&T on the road in Greensboro (March 18).
Danielle Lugo led Morgan State, going 5-for-9 on the day, including a 4-for-5 performance with three runs scored and 2RBI in the opening game.
The Lady Bulldogs' Cara Nance went 4-for-6 to lead Bowie State, which fell to 11-9 on the season.
Bowie State, which was riding a six-game winning streak into Sunday's contests, struck first in the opening inning when Justine Smith scored off an RBI single hit by Adria Lewis to right centerfield, giving the guests an early 1-0 lead in Game 1.
That lead would be short lived as Morgan State put up six points in the bottom half of the first. Deanna Matlock singles to short allowing Devina Brown to score on the play and tie the game at 1-1. Boshia Richardson later drew a bases loaded walk, which scored Lugo to put the Lady Bears up 2-1. Amber Bachman's RBI single to left field gave Morgan State a 4-1 lead and Shareday Christina followed with a two-run double to left center, scoring both Richardson and Bachman to extend the Lady Bears' cushion to 6-1.
Morgan State added to its advantage with four more runs in the second, including three straight bases loaded walks to increase its lead to 10-1.
Bowie State got back in the scoring column in the third inning when Haley Snyder hit a two-run shot to left field and Amanda Ray later connected on a two-run homer also to left field to bring the Lady Bulldogs within 10-5.
But the hosts went back to work in the bottom of the fourth inning, adding three more runs on a RBI double by Lugo and a RBI single up the middle by Lydia Walther-Rodriguez to make it a 13-5 game.
Bowie State's Snyder and Raenelle Taylor each drove in a run in the top of the fifth for the Lady Bulldogs' final runs to bring the guests within 13-7. But the Lady Bears ended the game in the bottom half of the inning when Lugo singled then advanced to second on an error by the Bowie State centerfielder which allowed Brown and Christina to score unearned runs and end the game on the eight-run rule with a 15-7 victory.
Game 2 saw the Lady Bears score a run in the first and two runs each in the third and fifth innings to jump out to a 5-0 lead. Bowie State scored its lone run in the sixth inning when Ray doubled to left center to score Nance and make it a 5-1 game.
Morgan State would add its final two runs of the day in the bottom half of the sixth when Richardson doubled, scoring Rodriguez and Matlock on the play for the 7-1 victory.
For the complete story, visit www.morganstatebears.com
Coppin State Completes Sweep of Md. Eastern Shore
BALTIMORE -- Senior Paige Arnold went 2-for-3 with two triples and two runs batted in and also picked up the victory on the mound leading Coppin State to a 9-1 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Sunday at the Coppin State Field.
With the victory, Coppin State completed the three-game sweep of Maryland Eastern Shore and improved to 12-14 overall and 5-1 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
In addition to going 2-for-3 at the plate, Arnold pitched 5.0 innings on the mound allowing two hits, no earned runs and struck out six batters to earn the victory.
Coppin State also received two hits and two RBI from Nicole Boggs, while Emily DeJesus, Heather Josker, Taylor Kairos and Tiffani Whaley each had hits for the Eagles. DeJesus, Josker, Samantha Denlinger and Kairos produced RBI for Coppin State.
The Eagles jumped on UMES starter Carmen Gurrola for three runs in the first inning.
Josker got things started when she reached on an error and Arnold followed with a triple to center that gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead.
Denlinger reached on a fielder's choice when Arnold beat the throw to the plate extending the lead to 2-0.
Kairos capped the inning with a triple down the leftfield line that scored Denlinger.
UMES (0-22, 0-6 MEAC) cut the lead to 3-1 by scoring an unearned run in the top of the second inning.
CSU responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to break the game open.
Patrice Williams was hit by a pitch to open the inning and advanced to second on a passed ball and third on a wild pitch. Boggs scored Williams when she tripled to left center increasing the lead to 4-1.
DeJesus delivered a sacrifice fly to left scoring Boggs and pushing the lead to 5-1.
The Eagles final run of the inning came when Josker reached on an error and Arnold connected for her second triple of the game.
The Eagles added two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning when Whaley tripled with one out and came in to score on a UMES throwing error when Williams stole second.
Williams later scored on a RBI single by Boggs to increase the lead to 8-1.
Josker then ended the game in the bottom of the sixth inning when she led off the inning with her first career home run extending the margin to 9-1.
For the complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com or www.umeshawks.com
THREE LADY EAGLES SLUG TWO HITS APIECE IN LOSS TO BETHUNE-COOKMAN
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -North Carolina Central senior Andrea Searls, junior Shakemia Edwards and sophomore Amanda Bullock notched two hits apiece during the Lady Eagles three-game setback to the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman University on Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1 in Daytona Beach, Fla.
B-CU finished the weekend with a 10-2 win on Friday and 6-3 and 8-0 victories on Sunday.
During Saturday's matchup, NCCU junior Sarah Kaiser guided the offense with one run, one hit and one RBI. Senior Aurora Baker opened the Lady Eagles pitching campaign by allowing 13 hits and nine runs against 26 batters. Junior Kayla McPeek relieved Baker to allow one hit and one run against three batters.
B-CU's Shanel Tolbert pitched a complete game for the Florida hosts. In 5.0 innings of play, she allowed five hits and three runs, while striking out two NCCU batters. Calesha Shelley led the Wildcats with three runs and four hits, while Kelsey Rodney notched two runs, two hits and three RBI.
The initial second game of the Saturday's doubleheader was called due to the weather, but was rescheduled for Sunday. The unscheduled Sunday doubleheader concluded with 6-3 and 8-0 B-CU wins.
In the opening competition of the afternoon, junior Bianka Molina pitched a complete game where she struck out two B-CU batters, while allowing seven hits and six runs. Edwards slugged two hits, one run and one RBI, as Searls notched one run and one hit.
Tolbert commanded her home mound over 7.0 innings, allowing five hits and three runs against 26 batters. Karina Romero led the Wildcats with two runs and one hit.
Baker pitched for 1.1 innings, allowing six hits and four runs against 10 batters, while Molina relieved the senior and threw for 3.1 innings to permit four hits and four runs against 14 batters. Bullock slugged two hits, as Searls and sophomore Cember Carmichael connected one hit apiece.
Tolbert continued her dominance from the mound with 4.0 innings of action where she allowed four hits against 16 batters. Michelle Banuelos-Smith tallied three hits and four RBI.
For the complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.bcuathletics.com