April 24, 2010

Final Stats - Game 1

Final Stats - Game 2

GREENSBORO, N.C. - North Carolina A&T State University showed why they sit at the top of the Southern Division in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Saturday afternoon as they claimed bragging rights over rival North Carolina Central University, shutting out the Lady Eagles, 9-0 and 7-0, in doubleheader action at the Lady Aggie Softball Complex in Greensboro.

NCCU completed their last game of the 2010 season and finished with a 7-36 record, while North Carolina A&T continues to battle for a MEAC championship title. They improved to 20-22 on the year with the victories.

The Lady Eagles struggled offensively and defensively against the speed and power of the Lady Aggies. They went 1-for-38 on the day with one hit and four walks, while committing seven errors, six which came in the second game. North Carolina A&T went 17-for-47 with 16 runs, 17 hits, 14 RBIs and eight walks, while committing just one error, which gave NCCU its first base runner of the day.

The Lady Aggies showed no fear as they gave NCCU trouble on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. North Carolina A&T pitcher Jennifer Luper pitched five innings of no-hit ball as she became the first pitcher of the season to throw a no-hitter against the Lady Eagles. Her perfect game lifted the Lady Aggies to a 9-0 victory.

Sophomore Andrea Searls notched the only hit of the day for the Lady Eagles as she hammered a double to left-center field in the seventh inning of the finale to snap North Carolina A&T pitcher Sasha Philpot's no-hitter. Searls finished 1-for-5 on the day as her double kept the Lady Aggies from throwing back-to-back no-hitters.

In the first game, the Lady Aggies scored nine runs off of nine hits with a pair of runs in the first and fourth innings and five runs in the third to clinch a 9-0 win. Lillian Bullock and Jessie Larson notched a pair of home runs to lead the Lady Aggie offense, each going 2-for-3 on the game.

Joining Bullock and Larson in the hitting duel were Bianca Alsobrook and Channing Statham, who also went 2-for-3. Alsobrook added a double to the mix. Bullock scored three runs and notched two RBIs, while Larson scored two runs and had two RBIs. The four of them combined for seven of the Lady Aggies' eight RBIs.

North Carolina A&T transfer Aurora Baker (1-8) earned the start in the circle for NCCU in the opening game as she got the opportunity to face her former team. She suffered the loss after giving up nine runs, eight earned, and nine hits in four innings of work. She walked four and struck out one, while falling to 1-8 on the year.

Lady Aggie ace Luper earned the win in game one after pitching a perfect game with zero runs, zero hits, zero walks and two strikeouts in five innings of action. She improved to 11-10 on the season.

Game two started out much slower with just one run between the two teams for the first three innings as North Carolina A&T held a 1-0 advantage. The Lady Aggies added to their lead in the fourth with two more runs. They plated one more in the fifth and three in the sixth to clinch a 7-0 win. The Lady Aggies scored seven runs off of eight hits and committed one error, while the Lady Eagles tallied one hit and six errors.

Unlike the first game, NCCU managed to get eight base runners and left six stranded. Nadia Jefferies got on off a throwing error by the North Carolina A&T catcher in the first inning and walked in the fifth. Mae'Risha Watts, Shakemia Edwards and Aurora Baker each earned a walk. Desanbra Franklin and Ashanti Stroud each got on off a fielder's choice, while Searls racked a double to earn the only hit of the day.

Ashley Carter went 2-for-3 on the game to lead the Lady Aggies on offense. She recorded the only triple on the day for the Lady Aggies and scored a run. She was the only North Carolina A&T student-athlete to earn a pair of hits in the final game as six others notched one hit, including a double by Bullock.

Shamika Chavis-Hodge (1-4) saw action on the mound in the second game as she took home the loss, giving up three runs, two earned, and four hits in four innings pitched, while walking three. She dropped to 1-4 on the year.

Senior Kristen Schooler threw in her last game in the maroon and gray as she pitched the last two innings of the finale, where she allowed four runs, two earned, and four hits, while walking one and striking out one.

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