South Carolina State Softball Opens 2013 Campaign With Three Wins

Orangeburg, SC--The SC State softball opened its 2013 campaign with three wins on opening day of the 2013 Hampton Jordan Classic hosted by Claflin.

In its first game of the day SC State defeated Kentucky State 8-0, in five innings.

The Lady Bulldogs jumped out quick 4-0 lead on Winston-Salem State in its second game on the day, but the Lady Rams made it interesting toward the end. SC State scored an additional run in the top of the fifth and three runs in the top of the sixth before Winston-Salem State bats came to life. The Lady Rams scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth but could not get any further allowing SC State to come away with the 8-2 win.

SC State easily defeated Clark Atlanta in their final game of the day. The Lady Bulldogs put up three runs in the first, one in the third and eight in the fifth inning en route to the 12-1 victory over the Lady Panthers.

For the complete story, visit www.scsuathletics.com

NCCU Drops Season Opener To Maine, 9-1

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -North Carolina Central dropped their season-opening game to Maine Friday, Feb. 8, at the Subway Classic, hosted by USC-Upstate, in Spartanburg, S.C., at Cyrill Stadium.

NCCU senior designated hitter, Shakemia Edwards, lead the Lady Eagles offensively finishing 2-for-3 at the plate followed by junior transfer London Germ who finished her first game in maroon and gray 1-for-2 at the plate along with NCCU's lone run scored.

The Lady Eagles played their first game of the season as the visiting team during day one of the USC-Upstate Subway Classic. Junior transfer Camille Hampton earned the first hit of the season for NCCU during the top of the first inning with a single to left field.

The bottom half of the first inning the Lady Black Bears used a two-out rally to put their first two runs on the board, leading NCCU after the first, 2-0. Solid defense held both teams scoreless during inning number two.

Entering the top of the third inning and the beginning of the Lady Eagles line up, Germ singled to third base before advancing off of Lady Black Bear errors and giving NCCU their lone run of the contest.

Maine's junior third baseman Jean Stevens hit a two-run homer off of Lady Eagles starting pitcher, Bianka Molina, before the NCCU coaching staff substituted freshmen London Booker to the mound. Molina, who took the loss for the Lady Eagles, finished the game after 2 innings on the rubber, allowed six hits, five runs, all which were earned, walked three Lady Black Bear batters and earned one strike out while facing 15 batters.

Booker finished her rookie debut in the circle pitching a total of 3.2 innings, allowed four hits and four runs, one which was earned, walked two batters while striking out one against 19 batters.

The Lady Black Bears were led offensively by Stevens who finished the first game of the season 4-for-2 at the plate, one run scored, four RBI's along with her two-run homer. Maine pitcher Beth Spoehr took home the victory after pitching five complete innings, allowing four NCCU hits, one unearned run, one walk, five strike outs while facing 20 batters.

For the complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com