Feb. 17, 2010

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RALEIGH, N.C. - A 13-run second inning by the North Carolina State Wolfpack left the North Carolina Central University Lady Eagles stunned in their season-opener as NC State grabbed a 24-1 victory from the Lady Eagles Wednesday night at the Curtis and Jacqueline Dail Softball Stadium.

Aurora Baker (0-1) made her debut on the mound for the Lady Eagles, taking the loss after allowing 15 runs in two innings of action. Three of those runs were earned, while Kristen Schooler, who came in relief, allowed nine runs in 1.2 innings pitched and notched the only NCCU strikeout of the night.

Wolfpack pitcher Morgan Peeler (1-0) picked up her first win and notched a career-high 10 strikeouts after allowing just two hits. She was headed for her first no-hitter with two outs in the top of the fourth, just one out away from the finale, when senior outfielder Desanbra Franklin snapped Peeler's hopes. Franklin hammered a solo shot over the centerfield wall to mark her fourth career homerun and to give NCCU its first run of the game.

Her two-out bomb sparked a brief rally as redshirt freshman Trishann Hayes followed with a single, scoring NCCU's second and last hit of the ballgame. The Lady Eagles tallied just two hits on 17 at bats. Defensively, they struggled to keep NC State off the bases as the Wolfpack earned 24 runs off of 16 hits in 34 at bats.

Unfortunately for NCCU, their offensive power wasn't there as the first two innings saw Peeler sit them down three at a time. The Lady Eagles got their first base runner in the third inning with Shakemia Edwards, who made her collegiate debut behind the plate. She watched a 3-1 pitch go by to earn a walk, the only walk for Peeler.

The Lady Eagles did not see any more base action until Franklin's homerun and Hayes' hard hit single in the fourth inning, giving them only three runners on the night. Franklin and Hayes both went 1-for-2 on the night.

Hayes and Edwards were two of seven Lady Eagle student-athletes that made collegiate debuts. Behind the plate, Edwards finished with three putouts. Hayes was the designated player, doing her job at the plate for NCCU.

Freshman Kaitlin Kramer made her debut at second base, where she contributed two assists and committed two errors. Nadia Jefferies made an impact in the outfield with one putout and one assist.

Shamika Chavis-Hodge started at third for the Lady Eagles as the freshman jitters seemed to take over. She was 0-for-1 at the plate and had two errors, while notching a putout in the field.

Kayla McPeek and Tiffany McCreary entered the game later on to replace Chavis-Hodge and Michelle Ishida. McPeek went 0-for-1 at the plate with a strikeout, while McCreary, who didn't get the chance to face Peeler, contributed in the field with a putout.

Michelle Ishida, who started at first base, took over on the mound in the fourth inning with two outs and two runners on base. She ended the game with two pitches that would lead to a 6-3 out to finalize a NC State win.

The Pack set a new school record in both runs scored (24) and RBIs (15). NC State had eleven student-athletes record a hit, while 10 batted in runs. Four had more than one hit in the game, a rarity for NC State.

The Lady Eagles drop to 0-1 on the season, while the Wolfpack improve to 3-2.

NCCU will return to the diamond Thursday, Feb. 18 when they open their home slate with Norfolk State in doubleheader action at the Thomas Brooks Athletic Complex in Cary, N.C. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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