DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University softball team will embark on its busiest four-day stretch of its schedule with a doubleheader at Gardner-Webb University on Thursday and five games at the Winthrop/Adidas Tournament over the weekend.
 
GAME INFO
 
Thursday, Feb. 23
12:00 PM (DH) - NCCU at Gardner-Webb | GAME 1 STATS | GAME 2 STATS
 
Friday, Feb. 24
1:00 PM (Field C) - NCCU vs. Bucknell | LIVE STATS
3:00 PM (Field C) – NCCU vs. Eastern Kentucky | LIVE STATS
 
Saturday, Feb. 25
11:00 AM (Terry Field) – NCCU vs. Mount St. Mary's | LIVE STATS
3:00 PM (Terry Field) – NCCU vs. Winthrop | LIVE STATS
 
Sunday, Feb. 26
12:00 PM (Terry Field) – NCCU vs. East Tennessee State | LIVE STATS


N.C. Central Softball
 
The Lady Eagles were swept in their last outing, dropping 6-1 and 10-2 decisions at Elon on Saturday. NCCU enters the week at 1-5 overall.
 
Senior pitcher Dominique Wilson sports NCCU's top pitching line. Wilson is 1-3 with a 2.45 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 20 innings.
 
Junior shortstop Ryann Kostandin (.353) and senior catcher Kim Mobley (.333) lead the Lady Eagles in hits while sophomore outfielder Miriam Duen (.385) has the squad's top average. Kostandin and Mobley have accounted for seven of NCCU's 10 doubles and four of its eight RBI. Freshman Ava Dolan (.267, 2 RBI, 1 HR) and Wilson (.250) are the other Lady Eagles batting over NCCU's team average of .225.
 
Gardner-Webb Softball
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs went 1-3 in their own home tournament last weekend, splitting with Holy Cross and dropping two to Bucknell. Gardner-Webb (3-10) swept NCCU last season (4-0 and 11-10) last season.
 
Senior starter Mackenzie Thompson (1-5, 3.27 ERA, 12 SO, 30.0 IP) is GWU's ace and she tossed complete-game shutout against the Lady Eagles last season. The Runnin' Bulldogs boast a 3.81 staff ERA, with freshman Olivia Henson (1-0, 3.29 ERA, 7 SO, 17.0 IP) and senior Summer Darnell (0-2, 3.73 ERA, 9 SO, 20.2 IP) being productive from the pitcher's circle.
 
However, Gardner-Webb has just a .201 batting average. Freshman first baseman Alia Booth (.333) is the only Runnin' Bulldog batting over .300. Senior second baseman Megan Champion has a team-high six RBI despite missing the last four games and sophomore third baseman Callie Thornton has scored a team-high seven times.
 
Champion had a two-run single in the first game and a three-run home run in the nightcap in helping lead GWU to its sweep of NCCU last season.
 
Bucknell Softball
 
The Bison opened up their season going 4-1 in a tourney hosted by Gardner-Webb. Bucknell had a 27-23 record last season.
 
Junior first baseman Meghan Kovac (.250), who was a First Team All-Patriot League honoree last season, leads the Bison with seven RBI. Junior left fielder Paulina Gutkin has hit safely in nine of her first 15 at bats (.600) with five RBI. Lara Bean tops Bucknell's pitching staff with a 3-0 record with a 1.43 ERA.
 
Eastern Kentucky Softball
 
The Colonels went 0-5 to start the year in a tourney hosted by College of Charleston. Eastern Kentucky did boast a 37-17 ledger in 2016.
 
Junior center fielder Paige Murphy is the Colonels top returning player, leading the Ohio Valley Conference with a .395 average before earning all-region and all-league honors, but has yet to play this season. Freshman pitcher Mollie Paulick has started off her career strong with a 0.59 ERA and 11 strikeouts in her first 15.1 innings pitched while classmate Mia Sanchez leads the team with a .368 average and four runs scored.
 
Mount St. Mary's Softball
 
The Mount will be opening up their season on Saturday. Mount St. Mary's had a 15-35 overall record last season.
 
Senior catcher/outfielder Rachel Heinze hit 19 home runs and sported a .347 average last season on her way to garnering First Team All-Northeast Conference in 2016. Junior Marian Ruf (6-11, 3.71 ERA, 48 SO, 90.2 IP) and senior Sam Lichtner (6-13, 4.03 ERA, 61 SO, 106.0 IP) both won six games a year ago.
 
Winthrop Softball
 
The Eagles went 5-0 in a College of Charleston Tournament last weekend to move over .500 at 6-4. Winthrop had a 15-43 record in 2016.
 
Senior outfielder Morgan Lowers (.294) and classmate third baseman Leah Young (.148) top Winthrop's top returning letter winners after leading the Eagles .295 and .272 averages last season. Young hit nine home runs, scored 31 times, produced 37 runs and stole a team-high eight bases a year ago. Senior catcher Paige Haley (.394, nine runs), freshman outfielder Ashley Westbrooks (.393, two triples) and junior shortstop Maddie Antone (.387, 14 RBI) pace the Eagles this year. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Kiley Majette (3-3, 3.98 ERA, 24 SO, 40.2 IP) has been the deciding pitcher in six of Winthrop's first 10 games.
 
East Tennessee State Softball
 
The Bucs dipped to 4-6 to start the year after losing all five games in a College of Charleston Tournament last weekend. East Tennessee State was 20-22 in 2016.
 
Senior third baseman Danielle Knoetze led the Bucs with a .338 average and nine home runs last season and she sports ad .375 average so far in 2017. Classmate first baseman Taylor Carter also hit nine home runs last season and is batting .321 with team-high totals of six RBI and eight runs scored this year. Sophomore outfielder Tiffany Laughren is boasting a team-high .517 average. Junior Madison Ogle (1-3, 3.00 ERA, 11 SO, 21.0 IP) and senior Lindsey Fadnek (1-1, 3.78 ERA, 14 SO, 16.2) have been the Bucs two most productive of six pitchers so far this campaign.