ROCK HILL, S.C. – The North Carolina Central University softball team allowed eight unearned runs in falling to Bucknell University, 6-1, and Eastern Kentucky University, 12-2, on the opening day of the Winthrop/Adidas Tournament on Friday.
Senior
Dominique Wilson accounted for three of the Lady Eagles seven hits on the day, including her first home run of the season.
NCCU (1-9) will play two more games in the Winthrop/Adidas Tournament on Saturday against Mount St. Mary's College (11 AM) and the host Eagles (3:00 PM).
GAME ONE: Bucknell 6, N.C. Central 1
The Bison used a big five-run third inning that included three unearned runs edge the Lady Eagles in an otherwise close affair. Bucknell improved to 5-1 with the win.
After Bucknell scored first in the first, NCCU knotted the contest with its lone run in the second. Wilson led off with a single down the left field line. Junior pinch runner
Danyelle Noland stole second and third and scored the equalizer on a throwing error on her second theft.
A solo home run by sophomore Anna Gimmestad started the Bucknell five-run third while juniors Meghan Kovac and Paulina Gutkin each had two hits for the Bison.
Senior
Jennifer Allison (0-2) was tagged with the loss, allowing three earned runs over 4-plus innings of work. Freshman Raeanne Geffert (2-1) went five strong innings with nine strikeouts for her second collegiate win.
NCCU was held to three hits off the bats of Wilson, Allison and freshman
Ava Dolan.
GAME TWO: Eastern Kentucky, N.C. Central 2
The Colonels scored nine runs in their final two innings to break open a 3-2 battle and secure the lopsided win. Eastern Kentucky (1-6) got into the win column for the first time with the triumph.
Wilson's two-run blast over the fence in left field knotted the game at 2-all in the bottom of the fourth. Wilson also had a single in the second.
A leadoff walk led to EKU's go-ahead run in the fifth before the Colonels pulled away late, including five unearned runs in the seventh. The final frame featured three Eastern Kentucky home runs. Junior Paige Murphy hit a three-run shot and finished with four RBI. Freshman Mia Sanchez and sophomore Rachel Minogue each collect three hits as the Bison finished with 15 total base knocks.
Freshman Ashton Martin (1-2) only allowed the two-run homer to Wilson over the first four innings to gain her first collegiate win, while classmate Mollie Paulick entered in the fifth with a one-run lead and kept NCCU off the board for her first career save.
Wilson started the contest in the circle for the Lady Eagles and she went 4 1/3 innings and allowed three runs over that span in taking the loss.
