Feb. 12, 2010

DURHAM, N.C. - The North Carolina Central University softball program will kick-off the 2010 season this weekend when they host the Virginia State Lady Trojans in doubleheader action on Saturday, Feb. 13 at the Thomas Brooks Athletic Complex in Cary, N.C. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

"We've had to fight the weather and really haven't been able to get outside and stretch our wings yet," said Lady Eagle head coach Mike Charlton. "These first couple of games, we are looking to just find our rhythm, and get back to playing on the field. We haven't been on the field in three weeks, and so I am expecting to see a couple of mistakes and errors just because we haven't been able to work efficiently on those things on the field."

The Lady Eagles will dive into a tough 2010 schedule as they enter their third year of transition to division one. NCCU continues to improve and become more competitive at the next level as they face tougher competition each year. This year's slate features four tournaments, 12 home dates and six road trips. With only three division two teams on the schedule, NCCU will compete with a mostly division one schedule.

"I think, overall, we are going to do fine these first few games," continued Charlton. "I am looking for us to have a couple of kinks from not being able to work on some things on the field, but once we get out there, get stretched out and spread our wings, I am expecting us to have a good showing."

NCCU finished the 2009 season with a 5-43 record with three of those victories coming at home. That was against a 99 percent division one schedule. This season, they return eight from last year's squad, including six starters. They will carry 17 student-athletes this season with three seniors, one junior, five sophomores and eight freshmen.

Leading the 2010 Lady Eagles are seniors Michelle Ishida and Kristen Schooler and junior Ashanti Stroud, who were named captains of this year's team. Ishida, a utility player for NCCU, will rotate between first base and the pitcher's mound this season. She came off a season where she notched a .225 batting average with 29 hits and 14 runs. The San Gabriel, Calif. native was second on the team in stolen bases, going 10-for-10. On the mound, she notched an 11.63 earned run average with a 4-13 record and 25 strikeouts.

Schooler returns as the Lady Eagles' starting pitcher after starting 21 games last season and finishing with an 11.93 ERA. She pitched 134.1 innings and went 1-20 as a junior and will take on the lead role for NCCU this season. She totaled 42 strikeouts. The Mitchellville, Md. native will head the five-man pitching staff this season.

Stroud, a versatile player that can play in just about every position, will see playing time mainly in the outfield, but she can play behind the plate and on the mound, if needed. She started in all 48 games for the Lady Eagles last season and notched a .246 batting average with 33 hits and 11 runs. The Kenansville, N.C. native had 55 putouts and just six errors last season, while earning a .915 fielding percentage.

Senior Desanbra Franklin will help anchor the Lady Eagles' offense as the leading offensive player returning for NCCU. She was second in hitting after notching a .283 batting average with 34 hits and eight runs. She appeared in 45 games, while starting in 43. The Piqua, Ohio native had 33 putouts and just two errors on the season.

Virginia State finished the 2009 season with a 23-12 record and finished second in the East division of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. They are led by senior Judy Hatch, who notched an impressive .509 batting average, one of six players to hit above .300 last season. The Lady Trojans will open their 2010 season on Saturday against NCCU after braving the cold, frigid Virginia weather to prepare for their season-opener.

The Lady Eagles will return to the diamond on Wednesday, Feb. 17 when they head up the road to Raleigh, N.C. to face their first and only Atlantic Coast Conference opponent of the season in North Carolina State University. It will be NCCU's first meeting with the Wolfpack and a homecoming for Charlton, who is a 1997 graduate of N.C. State. Game time is set for 5 p.m. at the Curtis and Jacqueline Dail Softball Stadium.

For more information on Lady Eagle softball, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.