RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Central University softball team left nine runners on base in a narrow 1-0 non-conference road loss at North Carolina State University on Tuesday evening.
 
The Lady Eagles outhit the Wolfpack, 7-3, but were kept off the scoreboard by sophomore pitcher Kama Woodell despite having six runners in scoring position.
 
NC State improved to 26-22 on the season and NCCU slipped to 17-24.
 
NCCU stranded a pair of runners on base in each of its first three innings as six different Lady Eagles recorded singles over that span. NC State sophomore left fielder Sam Russ kept NCCU off the scoreboard with a couple impressive catches to end those last two frames. Russ first raced down a liner off the bat of sophomore Caroline Campbell, making an outstretched catch to conclude the second. Russ then robbed freshman Madison Mifsud of what looked to be a potential three-run home run with a highlight-reel catch at the top of the wall for the final out of the third.
 
Russ led off the bottom of the first with a single through the right side of the infield. However, the Wolfpack would not get another hit off of NCCU sophomore starting pitcher Kiara Hurley until fourth. Hurley had two strikeouts over her first three scoreless innings and retired five straight NC State batters at one point.
 
Sophomore Chandley Garner broke the hitless streak for the hosts with the biggest hit of the game. Garner took a one-out offering in the fourth over the right field fence for her first home run of the season, breaking the scoreless tie with what proved to be winning lone run.
 
The maroon and gray had one last great chance at scoring with runners on second and third base in the top of the seventh. Campbell started the rally with NCCU’s only extra-base hit, drilling a one-out double to the right field wall. Campbell then moved to third base on a play where sophomore Jacobia Johnson reached base on a throwing error.
 
Woodell wiggled out of the late jam to preserve her shutout win with a groundout to shortstop that kept Campbell stranded at third before ending the game with a soft fly out to center.
 
Campbell paced the Lady Eagles offensively with a walk and her double.
 
Woodell (1-3) recorded three strikeouts over her seven complete innings of work. Hurley (13-13) suffered the loss, despite tossing another quality start, and had a game-high four strikeouts over six innings.