DURHAM, N.C. — The North Carolina Central University softball team will open up Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play with four games at Florida A&M University on Saturday-Sunday, March 27-28.
GAME INFO:
DATE: Saturday, March 27 (1 PM/DH) & Sunday, March 28 (12 PM/DH)
LOCATION: Lady Rattler Softball Complex, Tallahassee, Fla.
MULTIMEDIA: No Audio or Video
FOLLOW: NO LIVE STATS;
@NCCUAthletics
NC CENTRAL DUGOUT:
The Eagles are coming off their first win of the season with an 8-7 walk-off win over East Tennessee State University in the nightcap of last Sunday's doubleheader. NCCU will enter MEAC play with a 1-16 overall record. The Eagles were picked to finish second in the Southern Division behind FAMU in the MEAC's preseason poll.
Senior first baseman Joirea Dumas is leading the maroon and gray in most offensive categories, including a .333 average and .429 on-base percentage with 14 hits, including five extra-base hits (three doubles and two home runs), and five RBI. She is the only player to start every game for NCCU this season is riding a six-game hit streak.
Junior Madison Mifsud had three hits in NCCU's triumph over ETSU to improve her batting average to .293. Freshman Hailey Batista is batting .231 with a team-best seven runs scored. Sophomore Diamond Porter increased her average to .225 with the game-winning RBI hit against the Buccaneers. Freshman Imara Harrell ranks second in the MEAC with 0.41 stolen bases per game, going a perfect 6-for-6 on stolen base attempts so far.
Senior Kiara Hurley (0-11, 5.76 ERA, 34 K, 65.2 IP) continues to paces NCCU's pitchers in most statistical categories. Senior Caroline Campbell (1-2, 7.37 ERA, 5 K, 19.0 IP) has NCCU's win and freshman Jaylah Barr (0.3, 14.26 ERA, 10 K, 17.2 IP) is coming off her best performance of her rookie season, leaving NCCU's last game eligible for the win.
FLORIDA A&M DUGOUT:
The Rattlers played their first MEAC series last weekend, picking up one win in a four-game series at North Carolina A&T State University. Florida A&M (1-15 Overall, 1-3 MEAC) was voted the preseason favorites in the MEAC Southern Division.
A trio of Rattlers are batting over .300 on the season, including sophomore outfielder Melkayla Irvis (.342, 4 2B, 7 R), senior second baseman Kaylin Rhone (.333, 3 R) and junior shortstop Seriah Brokenborough (.314, 6 RBI). Junior Brandice Boatwright (.200, 4 RBI) has FAMU's lone home run on the season.
Sophomore Nadia Zenteno (0-6, 6.76 ERA, 14 SO, 38.1 IP) has seen the most action for the Rattlers in the pitcher's circle and joins Brokenborough as Preseason All-MEAC Second Team selections. Boatwright (0-6, 9.57 ERA, 7 SO, 26.1 IP) is a left-handed pitcher when not playing first base and senior Gabriella Williams (1-2, 9.80 ERA, 5 SO, 20.0 IP) has FAMU's only win.