DURHAM, N.C. – Junior pitcher
Jennifer Allison held a strong Charlotte softball team to just one earned run over her first six innings pitched and collected two of North Carolina Central University's four hits in a 6-1 non-conference loss at Parkwood Athletic Field Wednesday afternoon.
The 49ers, who are receiving votes in the
USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll, improved to 15-4 overall. The Lady Eagles were unable to win in their home opener and drop to 0-17.
Charlotte grabbed a quick 1-nil lead in the top of the first. Freshman Kiersten Berrier drew a walk to leadoff the game, stole second, advanced to third on an infield bunt by classmate Emma Oker and then scored as Oker was thrown out trying to steal second base.
Allison kept NCCU within one run by keeping the 49ers off the scoreboard for the next five innings before Charlotte tallied two unearned runs in the sixth.
NCCU cut the deficit to 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth as sophomore
Danyelle Noland crossed home for a team-high fifth time. She drew a one-out walk and switched corners on a double down the left field line by junior
Jenny Tracy. Noland was then allowed to trot home after Charlotte senior starter Lexi Betancourt was called for an illegal pitch.
The 49ers tacked on three insurance runs in the seventh behind four consecutive hits. Ocker paced Charlotte with three of the visitor's seven base knocks. Ocker and Berrier both scored twice.
Betancourt improved to 10-2 in the complete-game effort, scattering her four hits allowed over four different frames. Betancourt struck out three, including a big K to end the sixth with the game at 3-1 and the potential tying runs in scoring position on second and third base.
Senior
Markell Wylie led off the bottom of the first before Allison collected the Lady Eagles next two hits with singles in the second and fifth. Tracy had NCCU's lone extra-base hit with her double that landed just inside the left-field foul line.
NCCU plays two more home games on Friday in a doubleheader against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) member Howard University on Friday beginning at 1 p.m.
