DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University softball team found two different ways to win in sweeping visiting Norfolk State University by contrasting scores of 10-2 (6 innings) and 1-0 at the Parkwood Athletic Field Tuesday afternoon.

Nine different Lady Eagles combined for a season-high 17 hits in taking the run-rule victory before riding the arm of sophomore Dominique Wilson and manufacturing one late run in a tight nightcap.

NCCU has won five straight games to move over .500 at 7-5 overall. The Spartans, who did not play in February, remain winless on the season at 0-6.
Wilson had a strong day at the plate as well as the pitcher's circle. The Mooresville, N.C., product collected three hits in the first game including her first home run of the season. Wilson then dominated from the rubber in the second game scattering five hits over seven scoreless innings of work for the complete-game shutout while adding her fourth hit of the day.

The Lady Eagles hit .421 against Norfolk State going a combined 24 for 57.

Five NCCU batters hit safely three times apiece including senior Emerie Germ, junior Casey Hargett, junior Markell Wylie, sophomore Jenny Tracy and junior Kayleigh Brueck.

After trading runs in the first inning, NCCU finally pulled away in the opener with a pair of runs in the fourth and sixth sandwiched around a five-run outburst in the sixth. The big frame featured a trio of solo home runs off the bats of Wilson, Wylie and junior Demiree Briones.

Germ and Wylie each drove in a pair of runs and Hargett scored twice.

Junior London Booker had another strong performance for the Lady Eagles. Booker (5-2) struck out six in the complete-game victory for her fourth straight win in her last four appearances.

Wilson found herself in a pitcher's duel with Spartans' freshman Marissa Marrero in the final game as the two hurlers matched each other for the first four scoreless innings.

NCCU scratched out an unearned run in the fifth to account for the contest's lone run. Sophomore Brianna Hampton started the rally with a single down the left field line and senior pinch runner Tiphani Jackson then moved over to second on a wild pitch. Wylie ripped a two-out single off the pitchers glove. Jackson, who moved over to third on the hit, was then able to hustle home after the Spartans shortstop was unable to keep the ball in the infield.

Norfolk State had a quality chance to score the potential tying and go-ahead runs in the top of the seventh with consecutive singles to start the inning. However, after a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position Wilson was able to induce a groundout and a popup to finish off her first collegiate shutout.

Hargett had two of the Lady Eagles seven hits to extend her hit steak to 10 games and to keep pace with Germ, who successfully stretched her hit streak to a dozen straight contests.

NCCU softball next hosts University of Notre Dame in a single game at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, N.C., on Wednesday, March 11 with the game time moved up to Noon start with the potential of inclement weather later in the day.