Hampton takes Series Finale Over Howard
HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University softball team cranked out 11 hits in Saturday’s series finale against Howard at the Lady Pirates Softball Stadium, taking a 9-1 win in five innings.
The Lady Pirates improved to 11-16 overall and 4-2 in MEAC play.
Senior Diamond Ponds, senior Taylor McCoy, sophomore Lorena Alvarez, and sophomore MacKenzie Wise each had two hits for the Lady Pirates, and Alvarez drove in a team-high three runs. Sophomore Jada Fields and Wise each had two RBIs.
Freshman Allie Hotetz struck out three in picking up her fourth win of the season.
The Lady Pirates will play their next seven games on the road, starting with a doubleheader at Liberty on Thursday.
For complete story, visit www.hamptonpirates.com or www.hubison.com
Spartans Salvage Series with Win in Game 2
NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk State softball team came back to win the second game of Saturday's doubleheader by a 7-5 score over Delaware State to salvage a three-game conference series with DSU at Hornets' Nest field. Delaware State won the first game in five innings, 8-0.
DSU limited the Spartans to just three hits in that first contest. Senior Megan Dunning hit a grand slam for NSU in the second contest, and the Spartans held off the Hornets in the series finale. Delaware State (11-14, 4-2 MEAC) had won Friday's contest to take two of three in a key series between two teams expected to compete at the top of the conference standings.
The win in the second game did keep NSU tied with Delaware State at 4-2 in MEAC play. The Spartans improved to 9-14 overall.
Marissa Marrero earned the win, improving her record to 5-7. She allowed 11 hits and five earned runs while striking out four.
Nicole Brock (5-4) took the loss after allowing all seven runs, but just two earned, in six innings.
Sophomore Megan Przeslawski and junior Devon Bitler each went 2-for-4 and scored two runs in the second game. Each also had a hit in the first contest.
Brock, meanwhile, had a solid outing in game 1 for DSU, striking out eight and allowing just three hits in a five-inning shutout.
Rochelle Sablay hit 2-for-3 with two runs and four RBI, while Haley Jones drove in three runs for the Hornets.
NSU will travel to UMES next weekend for a three-game conference series.
For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com or www.dsuhornets.com
Savannah State Sweeps Bethune-Cookman
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Savannah State University softball team (13-17, 3-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) swept the doubleheader Saturday against Bethune-Cookman University (5-23, 0-3 MEAC) winning game one 4-3 and game two 4-1 to sweep the three-game road series at Sunnyland Park.
Junior right fielder Alexis Singleton led SSU going 4-for-8 (.500) with two runs scored in both games, while senior second baseman Antonette Smith and catcher Tia Bolden each batted .400 (2-for-5) with a run scored and Bolden hit a solo home run to record a slugging percentage of 1.000.
Freshman third baseman Cortni Jones batted .375 (3-for-8) with two home runs and four RBIs and a slugging percentage of 1.125.
On the mound, junior pitcher Amanda Hallman pitched 9.0 innings giving up one earned run scattering four hits with six strikeouts, holding opponents to a .129 batting average while picking a win and a save. Ashley Eichenlaub gave up one earned run in 4.1 innings pitched and picked up a win.
In game one, Jones led SSU going 2-for-4 with two runs, three RBIs and two home runs, while Singleton went 2-for-4 and Bolden went 2-for-3 with a run scored, an RBI and a home run. Eichenlaub (2-5) picked up the win pitching 4.1 innings giving up one run on four hits, while Hallman recorded her first save of the season pitching the final two shutouts innings without giving up a hit and recorded two strikeouts.
The Lady Wildcats were led by Annie Bakenhus, Mariah Davis, Iseha Waters, Brianna Sanders and Kaitlin Alamprese with one hit each, while Waters recorded a run scored and two RBIs, Sanders recorded an RBI and Bakenhus and Davis each scored.
In game two, Singleton led SSU going 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while left fielder Chasney Jenkins and Jones recorded a hit and an RBI and Smith went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Hallman went the distance on the mound giving up an earned run on four hits with four strikeouts.
The Lady Wildcats were led Sanders going 2-for-4 at the plate, while Waters and Wanda Darby each recorded a hit and Waters recorded the RBI and Darby scored.
For complete story, visit www.ssuathletics.com or www.bcuathletics.com
Rattlers Complete Series Sweep of NCCU
DURHAM, N.C. – Florida A&M University had a dozen more hits than host North Carolina Central University on the day as the Rattlers won both ends of Saturday’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) softball doubleheader, 10-1 (5) and 7-4, at Parkwood Athletic Field.
FAMU (14-19 Overall, 3-0 MEAC) finished with a 19-7 hit advantage to complete the three-game series sweep. The Lady Eagles committed seven errors on the day that led to seven unearned runs.
In game one, a solo home run by senior second baseman Jenny Tracy broke up the Rattlers shutout bid in the fourth but sophomore starting pitcher Veronica Burse was provided ample run support as FAMU tallied 10 runs on 11 hits, four walks and two plunked batters.
Burse (4-8) only allowed four hits over her five innings of work to earn the win. She struck out four and did not issue a walk.
Senior London Booker (2-11), who accounted for NCCU’s other hit, took the loss in the pitcher’s circle lasting 3 2/3 innings.
In game two, four NCCU errors proved costly in the three-run loss as the mistakes led to five unearned runs for FAMU.
NCCU was held without a hit over the last four innings. Junior Kenya Pereira, who was the winning pitcher Friday, tossed the final three innings to earn a save for FAMU. Freshman Tahlia Snider (1-1) garnered her first collegiate win, allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits in four innings of action with four strikeouts.
Dominique Wilson singled in the second and also scored NCCU’s final run in the sixth. In that frame, Wilson reached on a dropped fly ball and later trotted home on a wild pitch.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.famuathletics.com
Lady Hawks Fall to Coppin State
BALTIMORE, Md. – In a vital rubber match at in-state rival Coppin State (CSU), the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Softball Team was unable to win the season series as they dropped the rubber match against the Eagles, 4-1.
UMES (7-17, 2-4 MEAC) registered 10 hits; however, left 10 runners on base as well. Senior Emily Diseroad led the way as she went a perfect 3-of-3 from the plate. Fellow classmate Vanessa Gomez and sophomore Tesharra Hill also collected two hit apiece in a losing effort.
For Coppin State (2-16, 2-4 MEAC), seniors Shelby Mendoza and Danielle Smith each registered two hits in the victory.
For complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com or www.coppinstatesports.com
S.C. State Goes 1-2 in Three-Game Series at N.C. A&T State
GREENSBORO, N.C. - The South Carolina State softball opened Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play this weekend by going 1-2 in a three-game series at North Carolina A&T State. The Lady Bulldogs (4-12, 1-2 MEAC) split Friday's doubleheader winning the first game 8-5 then falling 10-1 in the second game. The Lady Aggies (13-14, 2-1 MEAC) won Saturday's single game 9-0.
In game one, S.C. State got on the board early, picking up two runs in the first inning on a two-run home run by Ciana Burt. The Lady Bulldogs held a 2-0 advantage until the bottom of the third inning when A&T posted three runs to take the lead.
SC State put the game out of reach in the top of the sixth by scoring four runs. With two outs and the bases loaded, Unique Whitehurst blasted a triple to right field that scored Jada Richardson, Justine Zepeda and Jasmine Greer. One batter later, Whitehurst scored on a passed ball to bring the score to 8-4.
N.C. A&T State managed one more run in the final inning, but it was not enough for the win. Kierra Cromer was the winning pitcher after tossing a 10-hit, five-run complete game.
The Lady Aggies turned up the defense in the final two games of the series and limited the Lady Bulldogs to just one run in 10 innings.
For complete story, visit www.scsuathletics.com or www.ncataggies.com