DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University softball team will begin its quest at attempting to qualify for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship for the first time in program history when the Lady Eagles play a three-game Southern Division series at defending champion Florida A&M University with a doubleheader on Saturday (1 PM) and a single game on Sunday (Noon).
 
NCCU will be providing a free audio webcast of the twin bill with NCCU Sports Network broadcaster Mike Wood on the air with the play-by-play. Fans can follow NCCU softball all season by visiting NCCUEaglePride.com and on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

GAME INFO

Saturday, March 25 | 1:00 PM (DH)
NCCU at Florida A&M
AUDIO
 
Sunday, March 26 | 12:00 PM
NCCU at Florida A&M
AUDIO
 
N.C. Central Softball
 
The Lady Eagles are coming off a 3-2 and 4-3 doubleheader sweep of University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Thursday. NCCU (5-17 Overall, 0-0 MEAC) is 4-2 against MEAC Northern Division opposition and was voted fifth out of six team in the MEAC Preseason Poll (top four teams in the Southern Division advance to the league tourney).
 
Senior Dominique Wilson picked up her fourth win of the season on Thursday with a career-high 12 strikeouts against the Hawks. Wilson (4-9) leads NCCU with seven complete games, 4.64 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 69.1 innings pitched. She also swings a big bat in the cleanup position, sporting a .308 average with team-high totals of two home runs and seven RBI.
 
Junior Lauren Sitterson (1-4, 8.11 ERA, 13 SO, 33.2 IP) and senior Jennifer Allison (0-4, 8.73 ERA, 9 SO, 25.2 IP) also may see time in the pitcher's circle.
 
Sophomore outfielder Miriam Duen has hit safely in five consecutive games and tops the Lady Eagles with a .321 average, including four doubles and four stolen bases. Allison (.245), freshman third baseman Ava Dolan (.224, 6 R), senior catcher Kim Mobley (.214, 4 2B, 6 R, 4 RBI), junior outfielder Danyelle Noland (.200, 7 R, 5 SB) and sophomore Aleyah Evans (.193, 5 R, 5 SB) and junior middle infielder Ryann Kostandin (.173, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 5 R) are other regulars in NCCU's lineup.
 
NCCU lost all three games to FAMU last season in Durham, but the Lady Eagles did go 1-1 against the Rattlers last time in Tallahassee two years ago.
 
Florida A&M Softball
 
The Rattlers have lost five consecutive games, all of them last weekend in the University of South Florida Under Armour Tournament to Yale, Colgate, Rutgers, Army and host USF. Florida A&M (5-24-1 Overall, 0-0 MEAC) is the three-time defending MEAC Tournament Champions and the preseason favorites in the Southern Division.
 
Senior Kenya Pereira is the reigning MEAC Pitcher of the Year. She only has one win on the season but continues to showcase solid numbers from the rubber. Pereira is 1-9 with a 3.64 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 99.0 innings pitched. Sophomore Tahlia Snider (2-2, 6.28 ERA, 25 SO, 28.2 IP) and junior Veronica Burse (2-13, 8.73 ERA, 31 SO, 66.0 IP) have two wins apiece for the Rattlers.
 
Senior outfielder Whitney Farris (.265, 10 BB, 7 R, 9 SB), junior first baseman Toni Anderson (.179, 7 R, 4 HR, 10 RBI), senior third baseman Amber Fullwood (.250, 10 R, 8 RBI, 5 2B) and senior Tashayla Irvis (.197, 7 R) are all preseason All-MEAC selections. Sophomore Alexis Day (.313, 15 RBI, 4 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 9 R), sophomore Taylor Rosier (.326, 3 2B) and freshman Jamesia Stoudemire (.233, 16 R, 10 RBI, 3 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 5 SB) are other bats to watch out for over the weekend.