DURHAM, N.C. – Junior Demiree Briones hit a towering two-run homer and reigning MEAC Pitcher of the Week Dominique Wilson tossed another complete game gem in leading host North Carolina Central University to a 5-1 win in game one of Tuesday's softball doubleheader against Marist College.

The Red Foxes took the second game 9-4 to salvage the split. NCCU (8-8) ended the day still at .500 while Marist moved to 6-10 overall.

Wilson (3-4) only allowed one run on six hits in her seven innings of work before securing the complete-game victory with six strikeouts. Marist had at least one base runner in 6-of-7 innings but Wilson stepped up each time and was supported by her defense including several nice infield plays before junior left fielder Markell Wylie ended the contest with an outfield assist throwing out a Red Fox at the plate.

Marist scored first in the third on an RBI single by Brittany Colombo, who had a pair of hits in each contest to pace the visitors.

Junior Kayleigh Brueck knotted the score in the fourth with a run-producing groundout. A delayed double steal home moments later by Brueck and Wilson put the hosts ahead for good. Junior Casey Hargett drove in senior Martha Batie to extend NCCU's advantage in the fifth before Briones capped the Lady Eagles scoring with her blast to straightaway center field.

Briones has three home runs in her first season at NCCU.

The Eagles were held to just three hits by Marist starter Jayne Oberdorf but they were able to manufacture runs when they had opportunities.

Marist jumped out to a 4-nil advantage in the nightcap with a pair of runs in both the first and second highlighted by a two-run homer by Rebecca Freeman.

The Lady Eagles fought back and pulled within one at 4-3.  Hargett put NCCU on the board by once again knocking in Batie in the third. Briones and Batie then drove in the hosts next two runs in the fourth.

Senior starter Melanie White got Marist out of trouble in the fourth with one of her three strikeouts. White (3-4) gave up seven hits to the Lady Eagles but all seven were just singles as she picked up the win in a complete-game performance.

The Red Foxes pulled away with three more runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth. Marist collected 11 total hits in the second game with Freeman tacking on a third RBI and Colleen McWilliams hitting two doubles.

Germ added two base hits for the Lady Eagles in the finale to go along with a double she had in the first game. Wylie reached base in all three of her plate appearances with two walks and a single.

NCCU next hosts University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Thursday beginning at 5 p.m.