DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University softball team wraps up its 2014 home campaign as the Lady Eagles (6-30, 2-7 MEAC) host the Florida A&M Lady Rattlers (15-23, 3-3 MEAC) in a weekend three-game series April 18-19 at Parkwood Athletic Field in Durham.
Friday's doubleheader match-up begins at 1 p.m. as the Lady Eagles will host Military/First Responders Appreciation games playing in camouflage jerseys.
NCCU first-year assistant coach Vashion Johnson served in the U.S. Marines and was a Desert Storm veteran while sophomore
Markell Wylie's (Fayetteville, N.C.) father, LaMark Wylie, is currently an active duty member of the U.S. Army who returned home after a year tour at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq this past January.
The Saturday series finale will conclude the Lady Eagles 2014 home season as NCCU will honor seniors
London Germ (Canton, Ga.) and
Camille Hampton (Lakewood, Calif.) prior to the 12 p.m. first pitch.
The Lady Eagles are returning to the diamond after a three-game road series in Orangeburg, S.C., April 12-13 where NCCU dropped the series 2-1 to the South Carolina State Lady Bulldog.
Rookie
Dominque Wilson led NCCU at the plate during the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference battle last weekend earning five hits during her nine at bats (.556) with two doubles, one triple, one RBI and five runs scored for the Lady Eagles.
Junior
Emerie Germ (Canton, Ga.) leads the Lady Eagles at bat during the season, boasting a .339 average while sophomore De'Onna Smith (McLeansville, N.C.) trails Germ with a .324 average and provides the power in the NCCU lineup with a .662 slugging percentage collecting a team-best five homers and two triples.
Pitcher
London Booker (Richmond, Va.) leads on the mound in appearances with 25 and starts with 21. Booker is 4-18 with a 4.25 ERA overall in 120.1 innings and has struck out 80 batters. During MEAC match-ups the 5-9 pitcher is 5-2 in the circle, has produced a 1.83 ERA in 42.0 innings, collected 33 strike outs while giving up six walks.
Behind Booker is rookie Wilson who sports a 5.25 ERA in 82.2 innings and has fanned 53 batters this season.
The Lady Eagles last met FAMU April 20-21, 2013 in Tallahassee, Fla., when NCCU dropped the series to the Lady Rattlers 2-1, falling 8-1 and 8-2 during day one before earning the 6-4 victory during the finale match-up on Sunday.
FAMU is returning to action after dropping an 8-0, five inning decision to N.C. State on April 12 in Gainesville, Fla.
The Lady Rattles are led by Whitney Farris' .385 average at the plate while Denise Anderson heads the team with five homers on the season, posting a .500 slugging percentage.
On the mound Ashleigh Minter has earning seven of FAMU's victories during her 27 appearances and 18 starts. Minter boosts a 3.90 ERA while she has pitched 97.0 innings, striking out 39 opposing batters and walking 27.
