Feb. 27, 2010

Final Stats - Game 1

Final Stats - Game 2

CARY, N.C. - The North Carolina Central University softball team (1-7) struggled to get their bats going as they went 13-for-55 on the day, falling to Barton College (2-4) and Western Carolina University (1-5) in day one action of the 2010 Lady Eagle Classic at the Thomas Brooks Athletic Complex Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Eagles dropped to 1-7 on the season after taking home two losses on the day. NCCU dropped a 5-3 decision to Barton College in the first game of the day, followed by an 11-4 loss to Western Carolina.

Sophomore catcher Andrea Searls owned the plate as she went 3-for-4 with all three hits coming against the Catamounts. Behind the plate, she totaled two putouts and one assist. Assisting Searls on the offensive end was freshman shortstop Kaitlin Kramer, who went 3-for-8 on the day with two RBIs and a run.

Desanbra Franklin went 2-for-7 on the day with both hits coming from doubles. She was the only Lady Eagle to hit a double on the day. NCCU had four stolen bases with two coming from the speed of Ashanti Stroud, while Shakemia Edwards and Kramer each had one. Defensively, the Lady Eagles gave up runs with 11 total errors.

In the circle, the Lady Eagles saw action from three different pitchers. Kristen Schooler (0-2) started on the mound in the first game, where she allowed two runs on seven hits in four innings pitched. Of those two runs, both were earned. She walked three and had one strikeout to earn a no decision. Michelle Ishida (0-2) took the loss after allowing three runs on five hits in three innings of work. She walked two and had one strikeout.

Kayla McPeek (1-1) pitched a complete game, starting on the mound against Western Carolina. McPeek, who is the lone Lady Eagle pitcher with a win, earned her first loss after allowing 11 runs on 16 hits in six innings of action. Eight of those runs were earned.

Taking the win on the mound for Barton was Jordan Humphrey, who allowed three runs on seven hits in five inning of work. She had two walks and two strikeouts. Coming in relief was Cynthia Burroughs, who allowed zero runs on zero hits in two innings pitched with three strikeouts.

The Bulldog offense was led by Kendall Street, who went 3-for-3 on the day. Three other Barton student-athletes put on outstanding performances at the plate. Natalie Phipps, Jessica McFadden and Amber Fletcher all went 2-for-4. Fletcher nailed a homerun over the left field fence in the first inning to help put the Bulldogs up, 2-0.

Western Carolina, who entered the matchup following a disappointing loss to Delaware State, came out with hot bats. They went 16-for-34 in the win. Danielle Reese led the offense, going 3-for-4 with a double. Chelsea Schaffer and Haley Pace both went 2-for-4. Schaffer also hit a double in the ballgame.

On the mound for the Catamounts was Amber Steinhardt (1-2), who earned her first win of the season after allowing four runs on six hits. Three of those runs were earned. She had one walk and four strikeouts in a complete game. She also made a showing in the batter's box, where she went 2-for-3.

In the first game, Barton came out to score the first two runs of the game to take a 2-0 lead. That lead came off a homerun by Fletcher. A great defensive game kept both teams off the board until a hit by Trishann Hayes sent Stroud across the plate for the Lady Eagles' first run. With NCCU down 2-1, a 2-RBI double by Franklin sent Kramer and Stroud home, giving the Lady Eagles their first lead of the ballgame.

Barton responded back with three runs in the sixth to reclaim the lead as they led 5-3 going into the last inning and a half of action. The Bulldog defense closed out the game with six straight outs to take home a 5-3 win.

Western Carolina was hungry for their first win of the season and it showed, but NCCU came out stronger in the second game. As the visiting team, the Lady Eagles had the opportunity to get on the board first. Kramer singled through the right side and was eventually sent home off a sacrifice fly to left field by Ishida.

The Catamounts followed with two runs to take a 2-1 lead into the second inning. The next three innings saw a tough Western Carolina defense that kept NCCU off the bases. The Lady Eagles managed to get just one runner in three innings. The Catamounts extended their lead within the next three innings, scoring seven runs off nine hits to take a 9-1 lead.

NCCU slowly crawled back into the ballgame, scoring two runs in the fifth and one run in the sixth to cut the deficit to five. A five-batter seventh inning would leave two runners on the bases and hold NCCU at four. Western Carolina polished off the win with two more runs in the sixth to claim an 11-4 victory.

The 2010 Lady Eagle Classic will continue on Sunday, Feb. 28. Game times were originally scheduled for 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., with two games being played at one, but those times have been changed due to the unavailability of the second field. Barton and Western Carolina will take the field at 10 a.m., followed by Delaware State and Barton at 12 p.m. Western Carolina and South Carolina State will go head-to-head at 2 p.m., followed by the tournament-host North Carolina Central and South Carolina State at 4 p.m. All games are played at the Thomas Brooks Athletic Complex on field No. 2.

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