CARY, N.C. – Senior pitcher Dominique Wilson tossed a career-high 12 strikeouts in game one and junior shortstop Ryann Kostandin ripped a walk-off sac fly to end game two as the North Carolina Central University softball team swept visiting University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 3-2 and 4-3, on Thursday afternoon at Thomas Brooks Park.
 
Junior first baseman Jennifer Allison had a team-high three hits as the Lady Eagles posted their first doubleheader sweep of the season. NCCU improved to 5-17 overall and 3-1 at home.
 
NCCU will next begin Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Southern Division play against three-time defending champions Florida A&M University. The three-game set in Tallahassee will include a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and the series finale on Sunday starting at Noon.
 
GAME ONE: N.C. Central 3, Maryland Eastern Shore 2
 
Wilson whiffed a dozen Hawk batters to earn her fourth win of the season and the Lady Eagles held off a late rally by Eastern Shore. Wilson (4-9) only allowed one earned run in the complete-game victory.
 
The visitors outhit NCCU, 7-2, but the Hawks stranded eight on base and they committed three errors that led to a pair of unearned runs.
 
Freshman Ava Dolan put the Eagles on the board in the second. After reaching on a fielder's choice, Dolan stolen second, moved to third on an error and scored on a wild pitch.
 
NCCU got its last two runs in the third to defeat All-MEAC starting pitcher junior Adrienne Guerra. Kostandin walked and moved to third on a single by Allison. Kostandin scored on a delayed double steal home and Allison also scored on the play after swiping second because of a throwing error.
 
An unearned run in the sixth ended Wilson's shutout bid, while a leadoff triple by sophomore Daeshia Jones in the seventh led to Eastern Shore's final run. With the tying run on base after Guerra knocked in Jones with a single, Wilson ended the contest with her 12th strikeout.
 
GAME TWO: N.C. Central 4, Maryland Eastern Shore 3
 
Junior starting pitcher Lauren Sitterson started NCCU's decisive rally with a one-out single in the seventh. The Hawks had a chance to get Sitterson out at second on a fielder's choice, but another errant throw allowed her to move up to third base. Kostandin then ripped her clutch fly ball to deep center field, allowing Sitterson to tag up and score without a throw home.
 
Sitterson tallied her first two hits of the season along with her first career win at NCCU after transferring in from Louisburg College. Sitterson (1-4) tossed a complete game and totaled three strikeouts while allowing three runs on six hits.
 
NCCU broke a scoreless affair with three-runs in bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Aleyah Evans and Sitterson started the push with a couple singles. They both scored on the Eagles' third consecutive hit off the bat of junior Danyelle Noland.
 
However, a three-run home run down the left field line by junior Samantha Casarez leveled the score in the top of the sixth. The Hawks continued to rally in the frame and had the potential go-ahead run on third base, but Sitterson came up with her third strikeout to end the threat and setup NCCU's theatrics in the seventh.
 
Sophomore Miriam Duen provided the Eagles with a single in both ends of the twin bill. She has now hit safely in five consecutive games.