TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – North Carolina Central University amassed a season-high 12 hits to capture its fourth straight victory before dropping the second game of Sunday's MEAC doubleheader versus Florida A&M University at the FAMU Softball Complex.
In game one, NCCU jumped out to a five-run lead and held off the FAMU Rattlers for a 5-4 win. In game two, the Eagles out-hit the Rattlers, but Florida A&M broke open a tie game with two runs in the fifth inning for a 6-4 triumph, avoiding the weekend sweep.
NCCU is now 4-17 overall and 3-1 in the MEAC, while FAMU is 2-18 overall and 2-6 in league play.
Up next for NCCU, the Eagles host Mercer University on Thursday and Friday, April 1-2, at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, North Carolina.
GAME ONE: N.C. Central 5, Florida A&M 4
NCCU struck first courtesy of a two-RBI triple by senior outfielder Nadia Blevins in the second inning. The Eagles chalked up a run in each of the next three frames to take a 5-0 advantage.
Florida A&M battled back with a run in the fifth inning and three more in the sixth. The Rattlers threatened the Eagles' lead with a pair of runners on-base in each of the last two innings, but NCCU senior pitcher Kiara Hurley worked out of the jam each time for the complete-game victory.
Senior outfielder Tamiera Sanchez accounted for three of NCCU's season-high 12 hits in the opener, including a double with an RBI and a run scored. Junior catcher Madison Mifsud, senior designated player Olivia Daniel and freshman outfielder Imara Harrell contributed two hits each.
GAME TWO: Florida A&M 6, N.C. Central 4
Florida A&M scored twice in the first inning and held the lead until the third, when NCCU freshman infielder Hailey Batista hit a three-run blast to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead.
The Rattlers regained the advantage by scoring twice in the fourth before Eagles senior infielder Joirea Dumas ripped an RBI double in the fifth to tie the game at 4-4.
FAMU avoided the weekend sweep with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to earn a 6-4 victory.
Batista, Sanchez and senior catcher Kaitlyn Macon finished the contest with two hits apiece for the Eagles.