SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The North Carolina Central University softball team allowed 28 combined hits in a pair of non-conference losses on opening day of the Update Invitational Friday.
 
The Lady Eagles (0-4 Overall) suffered a 14-0 loss to host USC Upstate in their first game of the day and then allowed a close game to slip away late in a 6-1 loss to Kent State University in the nightcap.
 
NCCU will continue play in the Upstate Invitational with two games at Furman's Pepsi Stadium on Saturday. The Lady Eagles will play Oakland University at 11 a.m., before a rematch against Kent State at 5 p.m.
 
USC Upstate 14, N.C. Central 0 (5 Innings)
 
The Spartans, who are receiving five votes in the current ESPN.com/USA Collegiate Top 25 Poll, scored 14 runs on 18 hits to stay undefeated on the season at 4-0.
 
USC Upstate wasted little time taking control of the contest with nine runs in the bottom of the first. The Spartans finished with three doubles and two home runs.
 
Sophomore outfielder Kendsey Chappelear ignited the hosts from the leadoff position with four hits, three runs and a stolen base. Senior third baseman Amy Szymanowski had the Spartans power bat with four RBI, including a three-run homer in the first.
 
NCCU was held to just three hits by Upstate's pitching staff. Junior Dominique Wilson had the Lady Eagles lone extra-base hit with a leadoff double in the second. NCCU also threatened in the top of the third when seniors Markell Wylie and Jenny Tracy had consecutive two-out singles to center.
 
Kent State 6, N.C. Central 1
 
Wilson went 2 for 3 and drove in a run but the Lady Eagles lost to another undefeated team after allowing four runs in the bottom of the sixth.
 
The Golden Flashes broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fourth on a leadoff home by catcher Brooke Dodson. KSU then put the game away with a four-run sixth that included three unearned runs due to the Lady Eagles eighth error in four games. Freshman Bailey Brownfield hit her first collegiate home run with a two-run blast in the sixth.
 
NCCU grabbed the initial lead in the top of the first. Wylie was hit by a pitch to begin the contest and eventually was thrown out at home on a single by senior Kayleigh Brueck. However, the Lady Eagles still got the first run when Wilson was able to knock in Brueck moments just later with a single down the right field line.
 
Seven different Golden Flash players had hits, with an RBI-single by senior Shelbi Tilton knotting the score at 1-1 in the home half of the first.
 
Wylie added her second hit of the day in the fifth, which moved freshman Janeen Reynolds over to third after she led off the frame with a base hit to right but Wylie and Reynolds were left stranded to account for two of six NCCU players left on base.