DURHAM, N.C. – A series win by either visiting North Carolina Central University or host South Carolina State University would greatly help either team's chances at qualifying for the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Championship when the two teams meet for a three-game weekend series on Saturday and Sunday in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
 
All three games will be carried live on the NCCU Sports Network, with Mike Wood on air with the play-by-play. For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com and follow @NCCUAthletics on Twitter.
 
GAME INFO
 
Saturday, April 23 at 1:00/3:00 p.m.
N.C. Central at S.C. State
Lady Bulldogs Field | Orangeburg, S.C.
AUDIO
 
Sunday, April 24 at 12:00 p.m.
N.C. Central at S.C. State
Lady Bulldogs Field | Orangeburg, S.C
AUDIO
 
North Carolina Central University Softball
 
The Lady Eagles were held scoreless in a three-game series sweep at the University of Louisville last weekend to drop to 4-38 overall. NCCU is 0-9 in the MEAC and two games out of the fourth and final playoff position in the Southern Division and one game behind SCSU.
 
Senior Markell Wylie and Jenny Tracy lead the Lady Eagles with matching .296 batting averages. Wylie also paces NCCU with 18 runs scored and Tracy has belted a team-high four home runs. Classmate London Booker was inserted into the lineup a couple weeks ago and is sporting a .300 average with two home runs and seven RBI in just 30 at bats.
 
Junior Dominique Wilson (.267, 18 RBI), senior Casey Hargett (.250, 13 R, 13 RBI), sophomore Danyelle Noland (.230, 14 R, 7 SB) and freshman Aleyah Evans (.200, 7 R) are regulars in the Lady Eagles lineup that are batting .200 or higher.
 
Booker has three of NCCU's four pitching wins and has had a couple great outings recently, defeating Norfolk State and holding a power Louisville lineup scoreless until the fifth inning in her last two starts. Booker has a 6.03 ERA and leads the staff with 73 strikeouts in 91.2 innings. Other NCCU pitchers include Wilson (6.95 ERA, 38 K, 47.1 IP), junior Jennifer Allison (6.00 ERA, 31 K, 91.0 IP) and freshman Breanna Carter (2.06 ERA, 6 SO, 17.0 IP).
 
NCCU lost two of three games to South Carolina State last season.
 
South Carolina State University Softball
 
The Lady Bulldogs suffered a non-conference doubleheader loss at USC Upstate on Wednesday to slip to 4-22 overall. S.C. State had lost 12 straight games and is 1-8 in the MEAC, which is one game behind North Carolina A&T State University for the final playoff position.
 
Senior catcher Cianna Burt leads South Carolina State with a .294 average, while knocking in eight runs. Sophomore second baseman Jada Richardson follows closely behind with a .292 average and she matches senior outfielder Jasmine Greer (.241) with 12 runs scored apiece. Junior Unique Whitehurstt (.232) leads the Lady Bulldogs with 11 RBI.
 
Junior Keirra Cromer is SCSU's primary pitcher tossing 98.1 of 135.2 innings. Cromer has a 3-14 record with an 11.81 ERA. Whitehurst has tossed the other 37.1 innings and has a 1-8 record with an 20.01 ERA.
 
SCSU is 9-3 all-time against NCCU in MEAC play.