Box Score Feb. 18, 2010
Photo Gallery
Final Stats - Game 1
Final Stats - Game 2
CARY, N.C. - A seven-inning rally from the North Carolina Central University Lady Eagles (1-2) forced extra innings as the NCCU softball team claimed its first win of the season as they took down Norfolk State University (1-1), 10-9, in the second game of doubleheader action after being shut-out, 10-0, by the Lady Spartans in the first game of their home-opener at the Thomas Brooks Athletic Complex Thursday afternoon.
"It feels good to get the first win this early in the season," said NCCU head coach Mike Charlton. "We have only played three games, but after coming from yesterday's game at NC State and then after the first game today, it looked kind of bleak for us, but we were able to pull it out. The girls showed tremendous heart and tremendous passion, taking it into the extra minutes and rallying from 8-4 down to tie it at eight and then moving in to win 10-9 in extra innings. I am really proud of the girls."
Redshirt freshman Trishann Hayes controlled the plate for the Lady Eagles, going 4-for-6 in the box, including the game-winning 2-RBI double through left-center field in the eighth inning of the second game that would send NCCU home with a 10-9 victory over Norfolk State. Hayes, who made her debut at second base, contributed four putouts and four assists on the defensive end.
It was a double dose of Nadia for Norfolk State. Nadia Moreta, who made her 2010 debut in the designated hitter spot, made an immediate impact in the Lady Eagle lineup as she went 3-for-6 on the day with two triples. Nadia Jefferies went 3-for-6 on the day without a strikeout and added a putout and an assist on defense.
Three Lady Eagles made an appearance in the circle throughout the day as freshman Shamika Chavis-Hodge (0-1) made her debut as the starting pitcher in the first game of doubleheader action. Chavis-Hodge, a native of Knightdale, N.C., earned the loss after allowing 10 runs off 11 hits in 4.1 innings pitched. She got her first career strikeout against Meghan Ramsey in the first inning.
Kristen Schooler, who has a 24.00 ERA, relieved Chavis-Hodge to close out the game, allowing zero hits and zero runs in 0.2 innings pitched. Kayla McPeek (1-0), another freshman in the Lady Eagles' stable, made her collegiate debut on the mound, starting game two for NCCU. McPeek took the win after allowing nine runs on 11 hits and one strikeout in eight innings pitched. She pitched a complete game and earned her first career strikeout.
As a team, the Lady Eagles went 20-for-54 with nine RBIs, three strikeouts and four walks. Defensively, they held Norfolk State to a 22-for-56 performance with 19 RBIs, 10 walks and two strikeouts.
NCCU faced four different pitchers on the Lady Spartan side as Norfolk State pitched a pair of throwers in each matchup. Taking home a win was Alyssa Velazquez (1-0), who allowed zero runs on five hits with one walk and zero strikeouts in four innings pitched. Her relief was Casey Pomeroy, who closed the game with zero runs and zero hits with one strikeout in one inning of action.
Gipsy Ramirez (0-1) took the loss for Norfolk State, allowing six runs on five hits in 1.1 innings pitched. Of those runs, only two were earned. She came in to relieve Elizabeth Castaneda, who started in the circle for the Lady Spartans, in the seventh inning with Norfolk State staring at an 8-4 lead. Castaneda allowed four runs on nine hits with two strikeouts in six innings of action.
The Norfolk State offense was anchored by Rebecca Barnes, who went 4-for-8 on the day with two triples and five RBIs. Her partner in crime was Jaime Raab, who went 3-for-4 on the day, followed by Brianeisha Eure with a 2-for-5 day to lead the Lady Spartans at the plate.
Norfolk State started off strong with back-to-back walks to start the first game with both players crossing the plate for two quick runs in the first inning. Their offensive dominance continued as they scored at least one run in every inning until they led 10-0 going into the bottom of the fifth. NCCU struggled to put the bat on the ball with only five hits in the first game, two coming from the bat of Kaitlin Kramer.
NCCU left five runners stranded in the first game of the doubleheader. The Lady Spartan defense was too tough, not allowing a single Lady Eagle to cross the plate, shutting them out as they took a 10-0 win to open the doubleheader. Norfolk State improved to 1-0 on the season, while NCCU dropped to 0-2.
"In between games , we talked about being able to come out with passion and fire," Charlton continued. "We didn't quite turn up the energy in the first game and it really showed. I issued a challenge to the girls to come out and play hard. We issued a challenge to the girls and they accepted it and responded. I couldn't be happier."
The second game was a little different. Just like the first game, the Lady Spartans got on the scoreboard first with two runs in the first inning. NCCU followed with four runs on the board as Jefferies, Kramer, Ashanti Stroud and Desanbra Franklin each crossed the plate for a 4-2 lead.
Norfolk State answered back with two more runs to tie the game at four and used an aggressive defense to keep the Lady Eagles off the scoreboard. Going into the top of third, it was all squared up on both sides of the scoreboard. The Lady Spartans scored three runs between the third and fourth innings to take a 7-4 lead. It looked like the green and gold was in control going into the seventh inning with the score 7-4.
The Lady Spartans added one more to their column with an 8-4 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning, just three outs away from sweeping the series. A patient Stroud allowed for a NCCU runner as Stroud walked to lead-off the seventh frame. Franklin earned a spot on base off a fielding error by the Norfolk State shortstop, putting two runners on for the Lady Eagles. A double to left field by Hayes would send Stroud and Franklin home as the Lady Eagles inched their way closer, down 8-6.
With two outs, NCCU had fate in their hands. They chose to dig deep within as Jessica Refojo hammered a bomb into centerfield for a triple, sending Hayes across the plate for a one-run game. As the scoreboard showed 8-7 with two outs, the Lady Eagles did not falter. Moreta followed Refojo's lead and nailed a triple of her own into left field to score the tying run, sending the game into extra innings.
Norfolk State managed to get their runner home in the eighth inning to take a 9-8 lead, but the Lady Eagles would halt them at one run, leaving them with hope. With the Lady Eagles at the plate, Stroud ran out a bunt that would send Kramer to third. With runners on the corners, Hayes stepped to the plate with confidence and sent a hard flying ball into the gap in left-center field, sending Kramer and Stroud across the plate to claim a 10-9 win.
NCCU improved to 1-2 on the season as they head into their next matchup. They will return to the diamond on Sunday, Feb. 21 when they host Morgan State University at the Thomas Brooks Athletic Complex in Cary, N.C. It will be another doubleheader with games times set for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
