Lady Eagles Suffer First Home Sweep
DURHAM, N.C.—The Gardner-Webb University softball team found two different ways to win Tuesday in a doubleheader sweep of host North Carolina Central University. The Runnin’ Bulldogs rode the strength of a shutout pitching performance to win the opener 4-0 and then narrowly outslugged the Lady Eagles 11-10 in the nightcap.
Gardner-Webb tallied 23 total hits to improve its overall record to 12-13. NCCU slipped to 3-4 at home and 3-24 overall.
Seniors Casey Hargett and Markell Wylie and junior Dominique Wilson all collected three hits for the Lady Eagles. Wilson drove in four runs to increase her team-high RBI total to 14. Hargett and Wylie both scored twice along with freshman Breanna Carter. Senior Jenny Tracy knocked in three NCCU runs and sophomore Danyelle Noland tallied one hit in each contest.
In game one, Junior starter Mackenzie Thompson tossed her second shutout of the season, holding the Lady Eagles to just four hits over seven innings of work. Thompson improved to 7-4 with her seven-strikeout performance.
Junior Jennifer Allison (1-10) was tagged with the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings of action in the start. Wilson pitched the final 2 2/3 innings and registered six of eight outs by strikeout.
In game two, senior Amanda Gomes logged three hits and three RBI, including a two-run home in the sixth and junior Megan Champion ripped a three-run homer later in the frame. Nine total Gardner-Webb batters hit safely.
Senior London Booker and Wilson combined for 11 strikeouts for NCCU but they were tagged for just as many runs. Booker (2-10) pitched four combined innings and gave up three runs over that span with a half dozen K’s.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com
Drexel Holds off NSU for Doubleheader Sweep
NORFOLK, Va.—Drexel rallied with three runs in the sixth inning of game 2 and then held on for a 6-5 win and a doubleheader sweep of the Norfolk State softball team on Tuesday afternoon at the NSU Softball Field.
The Dragons also won the first game in six innings, 13-3.
In the second game, senior Megan Dunning batted 2-for-3 with two RBI, while junior Kayla McNair had a pair of hits and junior Devon Bitler scored a pair of runs in the second contest.
Freshman Hunter Halford (1-2) allowed six runs, four earned, on seven hits in all seven innings for NSU.
In the first game, sophomore Seana Moriarty hit 2-for-3 and also scored a run, while senior Whitney Williams batted 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Katie Haley (3-2) pitched the last three innings of the game for Drexel to earn the win in the first contest, allowing two hits and one unearned run.
NSU will travel to Delaware State to play a three game series beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday.
For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com
Hornets Blow Past Hawks to Take MEAC-Opening Series
Princess Anne, Md.—In what was a makeup game from this past Sunday due to inclement weather, the Delaware State softball team (9-13) tallied 13 hits, including a season-high three home runs, to pull off a convincing 10-2 road victory over the UMES Hawks (6-15, 1-2 MEAC) Tuesday evening.
The victory for DSU resulted in taking two out of three from the Hawks to win its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) series opener.
Sophomore Khaliyah Flournory turned in her best outing of the season with a 3-for-4 performance, which included a double and a pair of RBI.
Sophomore Vanessa Washington’s statline included a walk, a single and another run scored, while infielder Jordan Stamps went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Nicole Gazzola went 1-for-4, in addition to scoring once and tallying one stolen base. For the season, she not only leads the Hornets in batting (.442), hits (34) and runs (20), but she sits atop in the MEAC in stolen bases (18).
Junior Tara Tursellino (6-6), churned out her second victory in a row, surrendering one earned run, no walks and fanning five Hawk batters. Tursellino, however, allowed a season-high 10 hits, but only two went for extra bases.
Coming up, the Columbia Blue & Red will return home for the first time of 2016 to face the Norfolk State Spartans for a three-game series, beginning this Friday with a doubleheader.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com or www.umeshawks.com