Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – During a defensive battle between the Lady Eagles and the Longwood University Lancers, the North Carolina Central University softball team dropped two games (5-2, 5-0) to Longwood during its 2013 home opener, along with the Lady Eagles premier of their new playing surface on Tuesday, Feb. 12, at Parkwood Athletic Field in Durham, N.C.

During game one, Longwood stuck first in the top of the first inning after Megan Baltzell earned her first of three hits, scoring her teammate.

The next three innings remained scoreless between the Lady Eagles and the Lancers as the defensive battle continued. During the top of the fifth inning two Longwood student-athletes reached first base safely after two base hits before Baltzell knocked in her first homerun of the series adding three more runs to the Lancers lead.

NCCU won the sixth inning against Longwood after a three-up-three-down top of the inning. Entering the bottom of the sixth junior transfer London Germ walked then advanced to second and third after a pair of sacrifice bunts from freshman Jenny Tracy and senior Shakemia Edwards.  Junior transfer Camille Hampton stepped in the batter’s box with two outs on the board before earning the first Lady Eagle hit of the afternoon with a single to right center, scoring Germ. Hampton was replaced on the bases by Markel Wylie before fellow rookie classmate Amber Kirkland grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.

The Lancers answered in the seventh after power hitter Baltzell hit another homer over the center field fence completing her perfect 3-for-3 stand at the plate.

The Lady Eagles took one last stab at Longwood in the final inning of the game after freshman #De’Onna Smith# singled to right center, starting a seventh inning rally. Sophomore Tiphani Jackson reached first on a fielder’s choice to second base before classmate Martha Batie tripled to right field scoring Jackson.

The Lancers took home the 5-2 victory during their first game of the season advancing to 1-0, while NCCU fell to 0-5.

The Lady Eagles completed their best offensive and defensive performance of the season thus far after amassing two runs, four hits and only one error in seven innings of play. 

Freshman London Booker (0-3) took home the defeat for the Lady Eagles after pitching a complete game for the Lady Eagles. The Richmond, Va., rookie gave up five hits, five runs, four earned runs, five walks, and stuck out a season-high of four batters.

During game two of the series, Longwood took their offensive momentum into the first inning. Carly Adams reached first after a walk before Batzell hit her third homerun of the day, scoring two during the top of the inning.
Innings two through five remained scoreless between both teams with little scoring opportunity available due to solid defense.

In the top of the sixth inning and runners on second and third Adams scored for the Lancers after a wild pitch from Lady Eagle senior pitcher Bianka Molina. Booker replaced Molina in the circle to close out the inning for NCCU.

Two more runs scored for Longwood during the top of the seventh inning closed out the game with a final score of 5-0.

NCCU finished the game with no runs, three hits and no errors after seven complete innings of play.

Molina (0-3) received the loss for the Lady Eagles after pitching 5.1 innings, giving up three Lancer hits, runs and earned runs, walking five batters and striking out one.

The Longwood senior duo of Brooke Short and Ashley Cornell combined for the shutout against NCCU after giving up three total hits, no runs, no walks and striking out nine Lady Eagles as a unit.

The Lady Eagles fall to 0-6 on the season while Longwood advances to 2-0.

NCCU returns to the field on Saturday, Feb. 16 during the first game of a four-game series against Coppin State. The first pitch of the Saturday doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.

For more information on Lady Eagle softball, logon to www.NCCUEaglePride.com.