North Carolina Central Drops MEAC Opener to Defending Champs
DURHAM, N.C. – One swing proved too costly for the North Carolina Central University softball team as a grand slam by Florida A&M University lifted the visitors to a 4-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) win in the league opener for both programs Friday afternoon at Parkwood Field.
Senior second baseman Jenny Tracy tallied two of the Lady Eagles four hits and she drove in a run. Junior pitcher Dominique Wilson provided NCCU’s other run with a solo home run as the duo highlighted play for the Maroon and Gray.
Junior starter Kenya Pereira held the hosts to just four hits as she earned the win for the two-time defending league tournament champions. Pereira fanned eight Eagles and only surrendered one walk to improve to 8-9. The 2015 All-MEAC honoree entered the weekend leading the MEAC in wins, ERA, innings pitched and strikeouts.
Wilson (0-4) took the loss despite pitching well. Only three of her four runs surrendered were earned as she allowed five hits over her four innings of work. Junior Jennifer Allison hurled three innings of shutout relief and only gave up one base hit.
NCCU (3-26 Overall, 0-1 MEAC) and FAMU (12-19, 1-0) will conclude the three-game weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at Noon.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.famuathletics.com
RBI Double gives Savannah State a Win over B-CU
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Savannah State University softball team (11-17, 1-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) opened conference play with a 1-0 win over Bethune-Cookman University (5-22, 0-1 MEAC) Friday after sophomore shortstop Brianna Harris’ RBI double that brought home junior left fielder Chasney Jenkins from first base for the winning run in the third inning.
Harris led SSU going 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Jenkins and senior first baseman Torrian Wright each recorded a hit, while junior pitcher Amanda Hallman (6-8) went the distance scattering three hits with five walks and three strikeouts.
The Lady Wildcats were led by Mariah Davis, Iesha Waters and Bryanna Campos each recorded a hit, while Deidra Genera (3-7) picked up the loss pitching the first two innings giving up one run on two hits with two walks, while Sabrina Anguiano pitched the final five shutout innings scattering two hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Game two was called in the second inning due to rain and will start at 11 a.m. Saturday, followed by the final game of the series.
For complete story, visit www.ssuathletics.com or www.bcuathletics.com
Early Scoring Binge Gives Delaware State 11-9 Win over Norfolk State
DOVER, Del. - Delaware State scored all 11 of its runs in the first three innings on the way to an 11-9 victory over the Norfolk State softball team on Friday afternoon in the first game of a three-game conference series at Hornets' Nest field.
DSU plated four runs in the first, two in the second and then its final five runs in the fifth. After the Spartans added three runs in the top of the fourth, neither team scored over the last three innings of the contest.
Rochelle Sablay hit 3-for-4 with three runs and four RBI to lead Delaware State (10-13, 3-1 MEAC). Senior Whitney Williams, sophomore Megan Przeslawski and freshman Stephanie Davenport each had three RBI for NSU, which dropped to 8-13 overall and 3-1 in conference play.
Williams got NSU off to a strong start, hitting a one out, two-run home run in the top of the first for an early Spartan lead. But the Hornets wasted little time getting their offense going. With two outs in the bottom of the first, DSU used five straight hits to score four runs and eventually chase NSU starter Marissa Marrero.
Williams and Przeslawski each hit 2-for-3 in the game, while junior Hannah Haustein also had a pair of hits. Sophomore Seana Moriarty scored three runs for NSU as well.
The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.
For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com or www.dsuhornets.com
Hampton Splits MEAC Doubleheader with Howard
HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University softball team split its doubleheader against rival Howard at the Lady Pirates Softball Stadium on Friday, winning the second game 10-2 in five innings after falling 6-3 in the first game.
The Lady Pirates are now 10-16 overall and 3-2 in MEAC play.
In the first game, senior Diamond Ponds had three of the Lady Pirates’ nine hits in the first game, while freshman Hope Sobelewski and senior Taylor McCoy each had two hits. McCoy drove in two runs.
Freshman Allie Hotetz struck out a season-high eight.
In the second game, Ponds went 4-for-4 at the plate, while junior Danielle Budden, Sobelewski, McCoy, sophomore Jada Fields, and sophomore MacKenzie Wise each had two hits. Budden drove in a team-high three runs, and Sobelewski had two RBIs.
Fields struck out two and gave up just four hits in picking up her fourth win of the season.
For complete story, visit www.hamptonpirates.com or www.hubison.com
Lady Hawks Pick Up Split At Coppin State
BALTIMORE, Md. – Sophomore pitcher Adrienne Guerra had an incredible day in the circle as she struck out 18 Eagles and guided the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Softball Team to a split at Coppin State (CSU).
Despite the Eagles’ (1-16, 1-4 MEAC) late rally in game one, the California native sat down a season-high 10 batters. In the nightcap, she fanned eight more batters in a relief role and picked up the victory.
UMES won at Coppin State for the first time since 2009.
In game one, senior Vanessa Gomez finished game one going a perfect 3-of-3 with two triples and two runs scored.
In game two, Maryland Eastern Shore (7-16, 2-3 MEAC) racked up seven runs on 12 hits, led by Gomez and sophomore Samantha Casarez each registering three hits.
For complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com or www.coppinstatesports.com