Softball 4/23/2018 6:12:51 PM

This Week In MEAC Softball: Division Titles, Postseason Berths At Stake

WEEKLY NOTES

• MEAC softball begins week 12 as only two weeks remain in the regular season.

• The Hampton Lady Pirates and the Florida A&M Lady Rattlers were predicted to win the MEAC softball Northern and Southern Divisions, respectively. Florida A&M has won four consecutive MEAC Championships while Hampton has two championships all-time.

• Morgan State remains in the Northern Division driver’s seat after its three-game sweep over Maryland Eastern Shore. A sweep this weekend would tie a school record for conference wins (16). The Bears can clinch the Northern Division outright with two wins this weekend over Coppin State or a share with one win. If the Lady Bears are swept and Hampton wins its final six games, Hampton would clinch the Northern Division title. If both teams are tied, Hampton wins the division based on a 2-1 in record in the head-to-head match-up.

• To no surprise, Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman will battle for the Southern Division title once again. If the Lady Rattlers win one game against BCU this weekend, they’ll clinch the crown outright. BCU would win the division if they sweep FAMU.

• While the divisional championships are at stake this weekend, seeding and postseason berths are also at stake. Norfolk State, Coppin State and Delaware State are all fighting postseason berths as only one game separates the trio in the north. In the south, North Carolina A&T State, North Carolina Central and Savannah State are fighting for postseason berths as Savannah State is two games ahead of North Carolina A&T State and a game on top of NCCU.

• DaSha Hill of Hampton leads the MEAC with a .432 average while also accounting for 48 hits and is 40-of-42 in stolen bases. North Carolina Central’s Ava Dolan ranks second with a .423 average while compiling 44 hits, 37 RBI and 22 runs. Savannah State’s Brianna Harris ranks third with a .416 average followed by Coppin State freshman Nia Bowe (.409 average, 38 hits, 31 RBIs and 24 runs. Bethune-Cookman’s Ryan Jackson leads the MEAC with 111 total bases.

• Courtney Mirabella of North Carolina Central is obliterating opposing batters with 256 strikeouts followed by Coppin State’s Madison Didion (141) and Florida A&M’s Kyaira Brown (113). Brown leads the MEAC with 13 wins total and has won 10 straight.

• The 2018 MEAC Tournament takes place once again in Ormond Beach, Fla. as Bethune-Cookman will host the tournament. The top four teams from each division make the conference tournament.