Norfolk State at North Carolina Central: Game 1 / Game 2 / Game 3

CARY, N.C. (Thomas Brooks Park) – In their final three-game series of the 2011 campaign, the Lady Eagles of North Carolina Central University suffered a three-game loss to the Lady Spartans of Norfolk State on May 7-8 at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, N.C.

 

In two days of competition, the Lady Spartans defeated the Lady Eagles 8-3 (game one), 8-2 (game two) and 7-1 (game three).

 

Freshman Cember Carmichael and junior Nadia Moreta led the maroon and grey in hits with three apiece over the weekend. Carmichael also led in RBIs with two, as Moreta piloted the runs with two.

 

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foes were led by Whitney Holland. The third baseman slugged six hits, amassed seven RBIs and reached home on two occasions. Danielle Wright, Morgan Boyd and Gipsy Ramirez all contributed to the offensive campaign. Wright went 3-for-7 with four RBIs, Boyd was 3-for-6 with one RBI and Ramirez went 2-for-7.

 

In game one of the series, NSU slugged 15 hits to seize eight runs. The Lady Spartans obtained six of their runs in the top of the first inning, while clutching one run in the top of the third and their final run the top of the sixth. 

 

The Lady Eagles’ bats were silent until the bottom of the sixth, as Whitney Boykin reached home plate off of Nadia Jefferies single down the left line. Jefferies and Carmichael followed Boykin in rounding the bases.  

 

NCCU’s pitching leader Kayla McPeek pitched a complete game during game one. McPeek faced 39 batters in seven innings, striking out three Lady Spartans and walking one batter, while permitting 15 hits and eight runs. 

 

Casey Pomeroy and Elizabeth Castaneda shared pitching duties in game one. Pomeroy began at the circle, in four innings she struck out three batters and walked one, while only allowing three hits. Castaneda entered the circle, allowing the Lady Eagles three runs and three hits, as she threw one strike out and two walks.

 

The two programs continued the Saturday doubleheader with their 3 p.m. matchup.

 

The mighty maroon opened game two swinging, senior Ashanti Stroud, who was honored this weekend for four years of commitment to the Lady Eagles, reached home off a double bunt by junior Andrea Searls. Boykin obtained the second run of the contest from Carmichael’s sacrifice fly to center field. 

 

NSU answered back with two runs in the top of the second, four runs at the top of the fourth and concluded with two runs in the top of the fifth.

 

Boykin led NCCU in game two, going 1-for-2 on four times at bat, while Carmichael and Searls attained one RBI each. McPeek and sophomore Shamika Chavis-Hodge split the pitching efforts in game two. McPeek provided 4.2 innings of play for the Lady Eagles, she struck out two batters and walked two, as she permitted 12 hits and eight runs. Chavis-Hodge remained on the circle for 2.1 innings, against eight batters Chavis-Hodge allowed one hit.

 

Ramirez and Schulle hit away for the Lady Spartans in game two. Ramirez was 2-for-2, while Schulle went 2-for-3 with one RBI. Wright and Holland were 1-for-2 with two RBIs each. Along with her batting success in game two, Schulle pitched a complete game for NSU. Schulle faced 32 batters, striking out seven and walking two, while allowing eight hits and two runs.

 

The Lady Eagles competed in their last game of the season with game three on Sunday, May 8.

 

NSU almost swept the contest in five innings by leading the Lady Eagles 7-0 until Moreta whacked a triple down the left line and was brought home by Stroud’s single up the middle. Despite Moreta and Stroud’s surge to keep the contest going, the Lady Eagles could not assemble any additional runs.

 

Moreta ended game three going 1-for-1, while Stroud and Carmichael slugged one hit each. McPeek and Chavis-Hodge divided the circle once again. McPeek spent five innings at the mound, allowing 12 hits and the seven NSU runs. Chavis-Hodge relieved McPeek in the top of the sixth. In two innings, she struck out one batter and permitted one hit.

 

The green and gold foes were led by Wright, who went 3-for-3 with one RBI. Vasquez was 2-for-2 while at bat, as Holland slugged two hits with three RBIs. Pomeroy returned to the mound for game three, striking out three batters and walking one, while allowing three hits and one run.

 

The Lady Eagles conclude the season with a record of 7-37 (6-13 at home and 1-21 on the road).

 

Carmichael wraps up the season with a .404 slugging percentage. The standout freshman amassed 13 runs, 31 hits, five doubles, one triple, 21 RBIs and was the lone Eagle to seize any home runs with two on the season. McPeek guides the pitchers with a 5.77 ERA and five wins. In 35 appearances and 23 starts, the Westerville, Ohio native pitched 41 strikeouts in 146.2 innings. Freshman Amanda Bullock led the defensive effort with a .966 fielding percentage of off 217 putouts and nine assists.

 

NCCU will return to action during the 2011-12 athletic season. Information regarding the North Carolina Central University women’s softball team, including the upcoming schedule and signees can be found on the official website at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.