Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina A&T Split Games

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman split its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference  games with North Carolina A&T Sunday at Sunnyland Park.

The Wildcats (13-31 overall, 7-1 MEAC) posted a 2-1 victory in the first game,  delayed by Saturday rain while the Aggies (8-28, 5-7)  won the second game 6-1.

Despite the loss, Bethune-Cookman maintained its 1.5 game lead over Florida A&M for the division lead and a number one seed in next month’s conference tournament to be held in Ormond Beach.

In the first game, Shanel Tolbert threw a five-hitter and retired the final 11 Aggies she faced as the Wildcats pulled out a defensive batter.

The Wildcats answered North Carolina A&T’s first inning run when Aurelia Gamch doubled home Calesha Shelley in the first and took a 2-1 lead in the second when Simone Ceasar scored on Michelle Banuelos-Smith’s two out single.

North Carolina A&T’s Raven Smith drove in four runs as the Aggies pulled away from a 1-1 tie in the second game.

Banuelos-Smith tied the game in the second when she scored on Shamaria Engram’s single.

Gamch hit .545 (6-11) in the three-game series, followed by Sophia Ortega at .500 (3-6 with two walks) and Shelley at .429 (3-7 with two walks).

For the complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com or www.ncataggies.com.

NCCU Avoids Sweep With 6-4 Win Over  Lady Rattlers

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - North Carolina Central avoided the three-game sweep of the Florida A&M Softball team as the Lady Eagles defeated the Lady Rattlers, 6-4 Sunday afternoon at Messer Softball Complex  in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference action.

FAMU (14-29, 6-3 MEAC) garnered eight hits in the contest as Brielle Gordon finished with three of them. 

NCCU (4-39, 2-9 MEAC) finished the contest with a game high nine hits as Emerie Germ, Camille Hampton and London Germ, all finished with two hits apiece for the Lady Eagles.

London Booker (2-24) picked up the win for NCCU as she gave up eight hits, two earned runs and striking out two in her seven innings in the circle for the Lady Eagles, while Jennifer Lindsey (8-18) received the loss for FAMU as he gave up six hits, one earned run and striking out five in her three and two-third inning of work. 

Ashleigh Minter made an appearance in the circle for the Lady Rattlers as she pitched three and one-third innings, allowing three hits and striking out one.

NCCU jumped out to a 2-0 lead as they scored a run in both the first and second inning with Nadia Jefferies scoring on a FAMU throwing error in the top of the first inning. 

Then the Lady Eagles would use back-to-back triples in the top of the second inning with Markell Wylie, who tripled to leftfield in her at bat, scoring on a London Germ triple to leftfield. 

FAMU would tie the game at 2-2 with both Robbielyn Roberson and Bianca Torres scoring on NCCU fielding errors in the bottom of the second inning.

NCCU would break the 2-2 tie in the top of the fourth inning on an Emerie Germ three-run double to left center scoring, Mae’Risha Watts, Jefferies, and Angelique Perricelli, giving the Lady Eagles a 6-2 lead.

The Lady Rattlers cut the Lady Eagles’ lead to 6-4 on a Gordon single to centerfield scoring both Tikeya Strong and Christina Robbs, for the finale.

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