DURHAM, N.C. – A two-run homer by sophomore Brianna Hampton accounted for both of North Carolina Central University runs in a 10-0 and 4-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) doubleheader loss to Bethune-Cookman University on Tuesday afternoon at Parkwood Athletic Field.
NCCU (14-19 Overall, 0-5 MEAC) and B-CU (12-24, 5-0) will conclude the three-game league series with a Noon finale on Wednesday.
The Lady Eagles were held to just seven hits over the 12 combined innings. Hampton's first homer of the season over the left field fence late in the second contest prevented NCCU from being shutout in both games.
Junior
Casey Hargett was the only NCCU player to hit safely in both ends of the twin bill.
The Wildcats, who won the MEAC Southern Division regular season title last year and are the preseason favorites to win the division in 2015, scored its 10 runs on 10 hits in the first game. Bethune-Cookman erupted for four runs in the second and six more in the fourth including four unearned as the Lady Eagles committed six errors on the day.
NCCU had several chances at scoring in the opener putting runners in scoring position in three of five innings including a double by sophomore
Dominique Wilson in the second; a pair of singles by senior
Emerie Germ and Hargett in the fourth; and a single by junior
Kayleigh Brueck that loaded the bases in the fifth following two walks by fellow junior classmates
De'Onna Smith and
Markell Wylie.
B-CU constructed a 3-nil advantage in the nightcap before Hampton's two-run shot pulled the hosts back to within one run. The Wildcats added a second unearned run – their sixth unearned run of the day – in the sixth to double up their final margin of victory.
Hargett hit a single to left before Hampton went yard in the bottom of the fifth for a modest four-game hit streak. The Lady Eagles third and final hit of the contest came later in the same inning off the bat of junior
Angelique Perricelli.
Junior Sophia Ortega led the victorious Wildcats with six hits and four RBI while sophomore Sabriina Anguiano (9-20) tossed both complete-game victories for Bethune-Cookman.