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CARY, N.C. (Thomas Brooks Park) – North Carolina Central University head softball coach Mike Charlton launched his fourth season with two wins on the first day of competition during the 2011 Lady Eagles Softball Invitational beginning on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, N.C.

 

The Lady Eagles began the chilly morning with a 9-0 win over Saint Paul’s College and concluded the afternoon with a 3-2 victory over Winston-Salem State University.

 

NCCU junior Andrea Searls RBI double in the fifth inning sealed the Lady Eagle’s first win of the season.  Kayla McPeek received the win for the Lady Eagles while only allowing one hit in the first inning, starting off her sophomore campaign with a 1-0 record. Sophomore Shamika Chavis-Hodge entered the game for the Lady Eagles in the fourth inning, finishing out the game with no hits and four strikeouts.

 

On the offensive end, sophomore Nadia Jefferies and senior Ashanti Stroud led the way with two hits each; Jefferies scored three of the Lady Eagles nine runs. Freshmen Regina Diaz and Cember Carmichael both made their college debuts with a hit and run apiece.

 

The Lady Eagles took on former Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association foes Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) in their second game of the day. WSSU started the game off scoring a sole run putting them ahead 1-0. NCCU answered in the bottom of the first inning, scoring two quick runs before the Lady Rams made a pitching substitution. The Lady Eagles finished the inning with three runs, putting them up 3-1.

 

With the next five innings remaining scoreless between both teams, the Lady Eagles maintained their lead entering the seventh inning. WSSU gave one last effort at adjusting the scoreboard in the top of the seventh inning; Candice Spinks narrowed the lead to just one. Winston-Salem State’s Kayla Woodbury hit a fly ball to Nadia Jefferies to end the game for the Lady Eagles second victory of the day. McPeek brought home the win for the Lady Eagles giving her and her Lady Eagles both a 2-0 record for the start of the 2011 season.

 

NCCU continues the 2011 Lady Eagle Softball Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 13 facing Western Carolina at 10 a.m.