April 7, 2010

DURHAM, N.C. - The North Carolina Central University softball team (6-26) will return to the state of Virginia to face Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe Norfolk State University (6-16) in a rematch from earlier in the season as the Lady Eagles and the Spartans face-off on Thursday, April 8 in doubleheader action. Game times are set for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at the NSU Softball Field.

Earlier this season, the Lady Eagles hosted the Spartans in their home-opener at the Thomas Brooks Athletic Complex in Cary, N.C. NCCU split the doubleheader as Norfolk State pushed past the Lady Eagles in the first game to clinch a 10-0 victory. NCCU battled back in the second game to squeeze past the Spartans in extra innings, claiming a 10-9 win, which was the Lady Eagles' first win of the 2010 season.

NCCU stands at 6-26 on the season, surpassing their winning record from last year, where they finished with a 5-43 mark. The Lady Eagles enter the matchup following a doubleheader split at Hampton University Monday afternoon. NCCU clinched a 5-1 win in the first game before falling 4-2 in final game action.

The Lady Eagles have three student-athletes hitting above .300 going into Thursday afternoon's doubleheader. As a team, NCCU is hitting .244 with 189 hits off of 774 at-bats. The Lady Eagles have totaled 33 doubles, seven triples, 11 home runs and 81 RBIs, while going 37-for-39 in stolen bases.

Senior Desanbra Franklin anchors the Lady Eagle offense, standing with a .352 average. She is the lone NCCU student-athlete to play and start in all 32 ballgames this season. Franklin is 32-for-91 on the year with 19 runs, 10 doubles, five home runs and 15 RBIs. The Piqua, Ohio, native leads the team in doubles and home runs, while tying for first in RBIs. She is also a perfect 4-for-4 in stolen bases.

Andrea Searls has been a major threat for NCCU's opponents this season. She is hitting .347 with 25 hits. Searls has five doubles, two triples, one homerun and six RBIs this season. The Oceanside, Calif., native has also racked up a perfect 4-for-4 in stolen bases, while notching a .950 fielding percentage.

Rounding out the Lady Eagle offense is freshman Nadia Jefferies, a local talent from Garner, N.C. Jefferies sits with a .318 average, going 27-for-85 on the year. Her speed has made her hard to catch on the base path, having stole 9-of-10 bases this season. She has two doubles and two RBIs.

Freshman Kayla McPeek anchors the Lady Eagle pitching game, standing with a 6.47 ERA. She stands with a 2-7 record on the season with 15 appearances and nine starts. She has given up 53 earned runs and 102 hits this year, while standing second in strikeouts with 14. McPeek has pitched 57.1 innings and six complete games.

Norfolk State is an evenly matched team with NCCU as they stand with a 6-16 record. The Spartans have won three of their last five games and are coming off a 7-0 conference loss to Bethune-Cookman. Norfolk State has two student-athletes hitting above .300 and two in the bullpen that are below five in ERA.

As a team, the Spartans are hitting .226 with 122 hits off of 539 at-bats. Norfolk State has totaled 18 doubles, three triples, four home runs and 67 RBIs, while going 27-for-30 in stolen bases. They are a pretty good fielding team with a .950 fielding percentage so far this season.

Sara Spanka has a .324 average. She is 12-for-37 on the year with five RBIs. Spanka has a .405 on-base percentage and is 2-for-2 in stolen bases. Norfolk State's power hitter is Rebecca Barnes. Barnes is hitting .270 on the year and is 17-for-63. She has totaled seven runs with four doubles, two triples, one home run and 11 RBIs, leading the team in just about every category.

The dynamic duo of Alyssa Velazquez and Elizabeth Castaneda lead the Spartans in the circle. Velazquez is Norfolk State's ace with a 2.91 ERA. She has a 4-9 record this season with 16 appearances and 12 starts. The junior has given up 31 earned runs with 87 hits. She has pitched 74.2 innings and six complete games. Her 31 strikeouts are the most of the Spartan bullpen.

Castaneda has a 4.92 ERA with an even 1-1 mark this year. She has made 14 appearances, starting three times. She has allowed 26 earned runs and 54 hits, while pitching 37.0 innings. The sophomore has given up 25 walks and has 14 strikeouts this season.

Live statistics will be available for Thursday's game at Norfolk State. Fans can watch the live statistics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.

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