Box Score SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The North Carolina Central University softball team opened up the 2014 season serving as the visiting team to the Virginia Cavaliers, falling 8-1 in seven innings during the Lady Eagles opening game at the Upstate Classic Softball Tournament in Spartanburg, S.C.

Opening the contest, sophomore Markell Wylie (Fayetteville, N.C.) earned a walk before she was caught stealing at second. Senior London Germ (Canton, Ga.) earned her first hit of the 2014 season with a double down the left field line. Junior Emerie Germ (Canton, Ga.) advanced her sister to third base as she grounded out to the pitcher and senior Camille Hampton (Lakewood, Calif.) flew out to left field to end the top of the first.
 
During the bottom of the inning UVA's leadoff batter flew out to left field followed by a pop up to the pitcher. Sophomore pitcher London Booker (Richmond, Va.) put her first strike out of the 2014 season in the books finishing the three up, three down inning for the Lady Eagles.
 
The Cavaliers struck first during the bottom of the second inning leading NCCU 1-0 going into the third.
 
The Lady Eagles answered during the top of the third inning. Wylie earned her first hit of the game with two outs, as she singled to the pitcher.
 
London Germ answered with a bunt single, advancing to third off of a UVA throwing error as Wylie scored NCCU's lone run, knotting the score at one.
 
After UVA pulled ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the third, both teams remained scoreless during the fourth inning.
 
Six hits, including two homers, during the bottom of the fifth for the Cavaliers put UVA on top of the Lady Eagles 8-1 before NCCU dropped its first game of the season in the top of the seventh inning.
 
Wylie finished perfect from the plate going 2-for-2, with one walk and one run while London Germ collected two additional hits of NCCU's six total, finishing 2-for-3.
 
Booker pitched six complete innings for the Lady Eagles giving up nine hits, eight runs, only two earned runs, one walk and five strike outs.
 
NCCU returns to the diamond on Saturday, Feb. 8 for day-two action of the Upstate Classic Softball Tournament as the Lady Eagles face Eastern Michigan at 4:30 p.m. and Youngstown State at 6:30 p.m. in Spartanburg, S.C.