Box Score Feb. 21, 2010
Photo Gallery
Final Stats - Game 1
Final Stats - Game 2
CARY, N.C. - The powerful bats of North Carolina Central University (1-4) were not enough to get past the mighty Bears of Morgan State University (4-2) as the Bears swept the Lady Eagles in doubleheader action on Sunday afternoon at the Thomas Brooks Athletic Complex. NCCU fell by scores of 10-6 and 7-5.
The Lady Eagles had 19 hits on the day, three more than Morgan State, who went 16-for-55. Five NCCU student-athletes had doubles, while one notched a triple. NCCU dropped to 1-4 on the season, while Morgan State, who has faced doubleheaders the last three days, improved to 4-2 on the season.
Freshman Nadia Jefferies put on another outstanding performance at the plate, going 5-for-9 on the day with a double down the left line in the first game. Desanbra Franklin stood strong in the batter's box with a 4-for-8 day, including a double of her own. They combined for nine of the Lady Eagles' 19 hits.
Shortstop Kaitlin Kramer notched the only triple of the game when she hammered a bullet through left-center field in the seventh inning of the first game and eventually scored NCCU's fifth run when Ashanti Stroud found a gap in center field to send Kramer home.
Senior Kristen Schooler (0-1) earned her first start in the circle this season, suffering the loss in the first game, allowing nine runs on eight hits in five innings of work. Seven of those runs were earned. The second game saw Michelle Ishida (0-1) start out in the circle for the first time this season as she allowed seven runs on six hits in five innings of work to take the loss. Kayla McPeek closed out the first and second games to total one run on two hits in four innings of action during the day.
Morgan State was led by the bat of Jaclyn Hall, who went 5-for-7 on the day. She earned a spot on base every time she stepped to the plate except one in which she grounded into a 1-3 putout. Hall scored four runs on the day. Porsche Boddicker went 1-for-2 at the plate and scored two runs, while also making an appearance in the circle.
Boddicker started on the mound for the Bears in the second game and ended with a no decision after allowing five runs on 10 hits in fiving innings pitched. Her relief was Megan Johnson (3-1), who pitched a complete game earlier in the day. Johnson took home two wins in the pitcher's circle, allowing a total of six runs on nine hits in nine innings of work.
The first game jumped-off with a quick two runs from the Bears to take a 2-0 lead. Morgan State kept the Lady Eagles off the scoreboard for two innings. NCCU went to work in the third inning, taking a two-run lead off a two-out rally. Jefferies and Kramer got on off back-to-back errors by the third baseman. Ashanti Stroud loaded the bases when she took first off a shortstop error.
Franklin cleaned up, sending Jefferies and Kramer across the plate with a double, while Trishann Hayes followed with a 2-RBI double to send Stroud and Franklin home for a 4-2 lead. NCCU would be halted there; not scoring anymore runs until the seventh and final inning.
The Lady Eagles scored two runs in the seventh, but it wasn't enough to close the six-run deficit as Morgan State scored four runs in the fifth and six innings to put NCCU in a 10-4 hole. The Bears took the first game 10-6.
NCCU saw a much better second game as they stayed within striking distance for the entire seven innings. The Lady Eagles went into the bottom of the second with neither team on the board. With one out, Andrea Searls, who made her 2010 debut, singled to second base to give the Lady Eagles a runner. An error by the second baseman put two runners on with Searls at second and Ishida at first.
A double to left-center field from the bat of Jessica Refojo would put Searls and Ishida across the plate for a quick 2-0 lead. Morgan State answered back with a run in the third inning to give NCCU a 2-1 advantage. The fourth inning would see four runs from the Morgan State offense following two walks, a fielder's choice and an error.
With the Bears up, 5-2, NCCU battled back to tie the game at five runs apiece with three runs on two hits and two errors. Unfortunately, that was all the action the Lady Eagles would see as Morgan State kept them scoreless in the last three innings of play as the Bears put the finishing touches on the victory with two more runs in the sixth.
NCCU returns to the softball diamond on Friday, Feb. 26 when they host the Delaware State Hornets at the Thomas Brooks Athletic Complex in Cary, N.C. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday's game will get the Lady Eagles ready for the weekend, where they will host the 2010 Lady Eagle Classic. The round-robin style tournament will allow each team to play two games on both Saturday and Sunday. NCCU will be joined by Barton College, Western Carolina, South Carolina State and Delaware State.
For more information on Lady Eagle softball, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.
