Feb. 26, 2010

Final Stats

CARY, N.C. - Despite two homeruns from the bats of the Lady Eagles, North Carolina Central University (1-5) could not quite rack up enough hits to slip by the Delaware State University Lady Hornets (1-0), who stung them with a 15-11 defeat at Thomas Brooks Park Friday afternoon.

Freshman Shakemia Edwards led the offense for NCCU as she went 2-for-2 on the night with a homerun over the left-center field fence. Along with a homerun, she notched a single, two walks, two runs and two RBIs. Defensively, the freshman, who made her debut at third base, had five putouts.

Redshirt freshman Trishann Hayes put on another outstanding performance with a 2-for-5 outing. She nailed a shot over the left-center field fence to earn her first homerun of the season and hit her fourth double of the season when the hammered a shot into left field. Hayes, who has had the hot bat as of late, tallied one run and four RBIs, while contributing three putouts on the defensive end.

Making her debut in the field was sophomore Nadia Moreta, who has made an impact in the lineup for the Lady Eagles this season, had another impressive outing at the plate. She went 2-for-4 and was one of four NCCU student-athletes to hit a double.

Taking the loss for the Lady Eagles was senior pitcher Kristen Schooler (0-2), allowing nine runs on six hits and four walks in 2.1 innings of work. She came in to replace Shamika Chavis-Hodge (0-1), who started the game and allowed six runs on nine hits and two walks in four innings of action. Kayla McPeek eventually made an appearance to close out the game, where she allowed zero runs on zero hits in 0.2 innings pitched.

The NCCU bullpen finished the game with 15 runs on 15 hits with six walks and two strikeouts, while the Lady Eagle offense was 10-for-36.

Freshman Mae'Risha Watts made her collegiate debut, where she started in right field. Watts went 1-for-3 and contributed a putout on defense.

Delaware State, who showed the Lady Eagles a lot of different lineups, opened the 2010 season on a high note as they went 15-for-39. They were led by Casey Beighley, who went 4-for-5 on the night with a double and three singles to go along with an RBI and three runs. She also saw action in the circle, where she closed the game with three runs on three hits in two innings of work.

Taking home the win was Amber Coburn (1-0), who allowed zero runs on two hits with one walk and one strikeout in 1.1 innings pitched. She came in to relieve starting pitcher Andrea Waters, who allowed eight runs on five hits in 3.2 innings of work. Together, the Lady Hornets' stable had just three walks and two strikeouts.

Delaware State got on the board first with two runs in the first inning; both runs came from the first two batters in the lineup. The Lady Hornets did not cool down as they crossed the plate three more times to take a 5-0 lead going into the bottom of the second. NCCU finally earned a spot on the scoreboard with two runs to cut the deficit to 5-2 going into the third inning.

The mighty Hornets were shut down in the third inning as they left two runners on base as the Lady Eagles closed out the inning. The third inning was the biggest inning for the Lady Eagles, who scored four runs, including a homerun off the bat of Edwards that brought Desanbra Franklin home. Edwards' homerun gave the Lady Eagles their first lead of the ballgame as they went up, 6-5.

Delaware State managed to score two more runs within the next two innings to sit at seven, while NCCU continued to cross the plate with two runs of their own within the next two stanzas, sitting with an 8-7 lead. The next two innings were owned by the Hornets who scored eight runs on five hits to take a 15-8 lead going into the bottom of the seventh.

NCCU suffered a sixth inning drought, where they left two runners stranded after Hayes and Edwards landed on the bases. The seventh inning was their only hope as they continued to fight. Jessica Refojo, who entered the lineup as a pinch hitter, earned a spot on base off an error by the Delaware State shortstop.

Moreta quickly followed with a single down the left field line, which scored Refojo. With a runner on first and two outs, Hayes smacked the ball over the left-center field wall for a homerun. Her homer put two more on the board to put the Lady Eagles down, 15-11 with two outs.

Unfortunately, they couldn't keep the rally going as the seventh inning ended off a 4-3 putout off the bat of Andrea Searls. NCCU dropped to 1-5 on the season, while Delaware State improved to 1-0.

The Lady Eagles will return to the softball diamond this weekend when they host the 2010 Lady Eagle Classic. The tournament will take place Feb. 27-28 at the Thomas Brooks Athletic Complex in Cary, N.C. The round-robin style tournament will allow each team to play four games. NCCU will be joined by Barton College (1-4), Delaware State (1-0), South Carolina State (2-6) and Western Carolina (0-4).

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