April 15, 2010

Final Stats - Game 1

Final Stats - Game 2

RALEIGH, N.C. - Winston-Salem State University took home a doubleheader sweep of North Carolina Central University in softball action Thursday evening at the Curtis and Jacqueline Dail Softball Stadium on the campus of North Carolina State University as the Lady Rams downed the Lady Eagles by scores of 5-1 and 13-4.

NCCU extended its losing streak to five games as they drop to 7-33 on the season with two doubleheaders left on the schedule. Winston-Salem State improved to 6-17 on the season and is on a two-game winning streak.

Andrea Searls repeated her performance from two days ago, where she led the NCCU offensive attack. She went 2-for-4 on the day. Also going 2-for-4 was redshirt freshman Trishann Hayes with one run and a RBI.

The Lady Eagles notched five runs and 13 hits, but committed eight costly errors that made the difference on the day. NCCU committed five of those errors in the fifth inning of the final game, where the Lady Rams battled from a four-run tie to plate nine runners off of seven hits to take a 13-4 lead.

Winston-Salem State took control of the day from game one when they earned one run off of two hits in the first inning. They scored three more in the fifth and one in the sixth with two of those earned to sit with a 5-0 cushion. The Lady Rams went 10-for-27 with five RBIs and just one strikeout, while committing four errors.

NCCU scored its only run of the game in the sixth when Desanbra Franklin hit a solo home run over the right-center field wall to earn her sixth homer of the season, marking the Lady Eagles' fifth hit of the day. Franklin went 1-for-3 with the only run and RBI of the game. NCCU went 6-for-29 with one RBI and six strikeouts.

The other Lady Eagles to earn hits in the game were Nadia Jefferies, Ashanti Stroud, Jessica Refojo, Searls and Hayes. Jefferies was 1-for-4, while the remaining four went 1-for-3.

Aurora Baker (1-7) suffered the loss in the circle after giving up three earned runs and 10 hits in a complete game. She walked two and fanned one. The sophomore transfer made her seventh start and dropped to 1-7 on the year. Taking the win was Brittany Lane (4-10), who allowed just one earned run and six hits in a complete game. She struck out six and didn't give up a walk, increasing her record to 3-10 on the season.

Once again, the Lady Rams took control from the first frame, scoring three runs off of one hit and three walks. NCCU responded back with a run of their own to cut the deficit to two after Michelle Ishida reached base on a fielding error by the Winston-Salem State shortstop. Ishida advanced to second on a wild pitch and circled the bases when Edwards delivered a RBI single through the right side, marking the only hit of the frame for NCCU.

Winston-Salem State scored another run in the second, but this one was unearned as Candace Spinks crossed the plate off a passed ball after getting onboard with a single to left field. The Lady Rams were halted at four runs for the next two innings as NCCU capitalized and tied the game at four with two runs in the third and one in the fourth. The Lady Eagles scored three runs in two innings off of four hits.

Hayes scored the second NCCU run in the third. She walked and advanced to second when Ishida singled up the middle. A wild pitch from the circle sent Hayes home, while Ishida went trotting to second. Franklin sent a RBI single through the left side to score Ishida, getting the Lady Eagles within one, 4-3.

Going into the fourth inning, Winston-Salem State got nervous and put in a relief pitcher. Starting out the game for the Lady Rams was Tiffany Burgess (2-6), who gave up two earned runs and four hits in three innings of work. She received a no decision for the game as Lane came in to take over, earning the win.

Facing a new pitcher, Searls was patient at the plate and walked to put a runner on with no outs. Freshman Kayla McPeek delivered a hard shot to the left side, advancing Searls to second. Hayes hit a RBI single up the middle to score Searls, tying the game at four apiece. Now, it was a ballgame.

Unfortunately, the Lady Eagles wouldn't see any more action at the plate with just one more opportunity as the Lady Rams scored nine runs in the fifth to put the run-rule in effect. In the fifth, NCCU managed just one hit in four batters as Winston-Salem State took the game with a 13-4 win.

The fifth inning saw the Lady Rams earn just three runs. With five NCCU errors, the Lady Rams capitalized on those mistakes with six unearned runs, while totaling seven hits. Winston-Salem State closed the game out with nine runs on seven hits and five NCCU errors, leaving just one runner on base.

Lane grabbed the win to improve to 4-10 on the season after giving up just one run and three hits in two innings of work. She walked one batter, while striking out two. The freshman threw over 100 pitchers on the day after pitching a complete game in the first matchup and closing out the second.

Shamika Chavis-Hodge (1-3) made the start on the mound for the Lady Eagles, but after pitching just one inning and allowing four runs, three earned, and two hits with three walks, she was replaced by senior Kristen Schooler. The senior ended up with the loss after giving up nine runs and six hits in 3.2 innings pitched. Just three of those nine runs were earned as Schooler walked two and struck out one. She dropped to 2-11 on the year.

McPeek made a brief appearance, replacing Schooler in the fifth with two outs. She gave up just one hit and zero runs in one-thirds inning of action as she managed to pull NCCU out of the nine-run inning.

The Lady Eagles will return to the diamond next week, where they will conclude their home schedule. On Wednesday, April 21, NCCU will host East Tennessee State University for a doubleheader. Wednesday's game has been designated as Senior Night, where seniors Desanbra Franklin, Michelle Ishida and Kristen Schooler will be honored. Game times are set for 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. with the venue still to be determined.

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