Game Statistics: Game 1 / Game 2

CARY, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – TheSaturday, April 9 doubleheader in Cary, N.C. at Thomas Brooks Park against North Carolina A&T State added two wins to the North Carolina Central University softball record. Along with the Lady Eagles 12-11 win (game one) and their 6-3 victory (game two), freshman Cember Carmichael grasped her second homerun of the season.

Both teams ended the first inning without a run. Lady Eagles then made their first strike in the bottom of the second. With sophomore Mae’Risha Watts at bat, Carmichael rounded the bases for the first run of the afternoon. Sophomore Nadia Jefferies reached home plate off of freshman Regina Diaz’s time at the plate.

The Lady Aggies placed two runs on the board in the top of the third. Detavia Kenan hit a double to left center field sending Morgan Chappell home for run number one. Kenan then rounded the bases and headed home by Ryan Hill’s single up the middle.

NCCU regained the lead with freshman Amanda Bullock scoring a run off a throwing error by A&T in the bottom of the third inning.

Refusing to let the Lady Eagles maintain their lead, the Lady Aggies scored a run in the top of the fourth.
As well as only permitting one hit and no runs in the bottom of the inning.

The fifth inning was pivotal inning for both teams, A&T seized four runs to gain a four run lead. But, the mighty maroon bats ignited as NCCU scored a season-high nine runs off of five hits. One hit to left center field by Carmichael sent three runners home and provided Carmichael her first home run as a Lady Eagle.

North Carolina A&T State made its effort to take the win by scoring four runs in the top of the seventh. But their efforts were futile, with NCCU securing a 12-11 win against the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foes.

NCCU sophomores Shamika Chavis-Hodge and Kayla McPeek shared the pitching duties during game one. Chavis-Hodge pitched for three innings. During her time in the circle, she struck out three batters and only allowed three hits and two runs. McPeek faced 27 batters in four innings, she completed the game with one strikeout, 15 hits and nine runs.

The maroon and grey slugged 13 hits in their 12 run win. Senior Ashanti Stroud and sophomore Nadia Jefferies led with three hits apiece, Bullock and Watts followed with two hits apiece and junior Andrea Searls, Carmichael and Diaz finished game one with one run each. In the RBI category, Carmichael’s homer allowed her to finish with four RBIs, while Diaz ended the game with three, and Jefferies, Watts and junior Aurora Baker completed game one with one apiece.

N.C. A&T State’s Tranea Jones pitched a complete game. In her six innings of play, Jones threw one strikeout, permitted 13 hits, 12 runs and walked seven batters. 

Kenan and Hill led the Lady Aggies runs with three apiece, while Dominique Gillard, Sabrina Edwards, Juanita Jernigan and Erica Turner slugged two hits each, and Tiffany Macklin and Lauren Clement connected once individually.

With one win complete, NCCU hit the field to secure its second victory of the afternoon.

The blue and gold came out swinging, scoring three runs in the top of the first. Which was the last inning the Lady Aggies would score in.

NCCU seized six runs in six innings of play off of six A&T errors. The mighty maroon scored two runs on the bottom of the first, one run in the second, another two runs in the third and they closed out the contest with a run in the sixth. Stroud and red-shirt freshman Whitney Boykin went 2-for2 in game two. Boykin also clutched an RBI on her two times at bat. Jefferies and Watts were 1-for-2 from the plate.

Lady Eagles’ head coach Mike Charlton selected Baker to pitch in the second matchup. In 6.1 innings, Baker threw three strikeouts, walked five batters and allowed 11 hits and three runs against 34 batters. After two consecutive walks, McPeek was sent to the circle to relieve Baker in the top of the seventh where she struck out one batter and made a routine play to first base.

Clement was assigned to the mound for the Lady Aggies. Clement pitched a complete six inning game, throwing one strike and walking four batters, while permitting 12 hits and six runs.

NCCU will return to Thomas Brooks Park on Sunday, April 10 as they look to secure its third win against North Carolina A&T State at 12 p.m.

For more information and the latest results on the North Carolina Central University softball team, visit the official athletics web site at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.