March 29, 2010

DURHAM, N.C. - The North Carolina Central University softball team (5-25) will hold off on their trip to Hampton, Va., tomorrow as field conditions have forced the postponement of their Tuesday afternoon doubleheader against the Hampton University Pirates (11-21).

Tuesday's game has been rescheduled for Monday, April 5, where the Lady Eagles will head up to Virginia to battle future Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe Hampton in a doubleheader. Game times are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the Tiny Laster Complex on the campus of Hampton University.

NCCU is coming off a tough weekend, where they extended their losing streak to six after dropping all four games of the Sean Savage Epilepsy Awareness Tournament hosted by Delaware State University.

The Lady Eagles stand at 5-25 on the season, just one win shy of surpassing their winning record from last season, where they went 5-43. Heading into the battle with the Pirates, NCCU has three student-athletes hitting above .300 on the season as sophomore Andrea Searls leads the way with a .353. The California native is 24-for-68 on the year with 11 runs, five doubles, two triples, a homerun and six RBIs. She is also 4-for-4 in stolen bases.

Joining Searls among the top of the Lady Eagles' offense are Desanbra Franklin and Nadia Jefferies. Franklin is hitting .341and is 29-for-85. The senior from Piqua, Ohio, is the only Lady Eagle to start in all 30 games this season, while leading in runs scored (17), hits (29), doubles (10) and homeruns (4). She is second in RBIs with 12, while standing with a perfect 4-for-4 in stolen bases.

Jefferies has made an instant impact in the Lady Eagle lineup as a true freshman. She is 26-for-78 on the season with a .333 average. The local standout from Garner, N.C., has notched 13 runs with two doubles and one RBI. Jefferies is the team's leader in stolen bases as she stands 9-for-10.

Leading the NCCU bullpen is freshman Kayla McPeek (2-7), who is the only Lady Eagle pitcher to rack up a pair of wins this season. The Westerville, Ohio, native has made 14 appearances in the circle with nine starts. She has notched a 6.51 ERA, while pitching six complete games. McPeek has given up 80 runs and 102 hits in 57 innings of work, while standing second in strikeouts with 14. Of those 80 runs, just 53 were earned.

The Lady Eagles are looking to snap their losing streak on Monday, while hoping to surpass their winning record from last season. Following their matchup with Hampton on Monday, NCCU will head back up to Virginia for a rematch with Norfolk State University on Thursday, April 8.

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