TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The North Carolina Central University softball team had five base runners thrown out to thwart its scoring chances in a 5-0 and 2-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Southern Division doubleheader loss at Florida A&M University Saturday afternoon.
 
The Rattlers, who are the three-time defending MEAC Champions, open MEAC play at 2-0 while the Lady Eagles begin 0-2. NCCU (5-19) and FAMU (7-24-1) will play the third game of the series on Sunday at Noon.
 
GAME ONE: Florida A&M 5, N.C. Central 0
 
Reigning MEAC Pitcher of the Year Kenya Pereira held the Lady Eagles to just two hits in a complete-game shutout. Pereira (2-9) posted her first clean sheet of the season with 12 strikeouts. She only faced one batter of the minimum, as two of NCCU's three base runners were thrown out.
 
Sophomore outfielder Miriam Duen registered the first hit for the Lady Eagles to lead off the fourth. Duen, who extended her hit streak to six games with her clean single up the middle, was the only NCCU player to reach scoring position. Junior shortstop Ryann Kostandin added the final hit with a single to right in the seventh.
 
FAMU scored its first three runs off NCCU senior starter Dominique Wilson because of a pair of errors. Wilson (4-10) took the loss despite not allowing an earned run over 2 1/3 innings of work.
 
Senior outfielder Whitney Farris highlighted the Rattlers offense with two infield singles and a run scored. Farris had two of FAMU's six hits.
 
GAME TWO: Florida A&M 2, N.C. Central 1
 
Junior Lauren Sitterson, who hurled the final 3 2/3 innings of the first game, tossed her second straight quality start (three or less earned runs allowed with at least six innings pitched) in the nightcap. She also collected two hits, but the Rattlers jumped out early and held off numerous chances by the Lady Eagles to complete the sweep.
 
Freshman Jamesia Stoudemire led off the bottom of the first with a triple and scored on failed double steal attempt to give FAMU the lead from the start. Stoudemire added a single in the fifth and scored the important insurance run on a base hit by senior Amber Fullwood.
 
Junior shortstop Ryann Kostandin, who made a web gem diving catch on a line drive, accounted for NCCU's lone run. She led off the sixth with a single down the right field line. Kostandin then stole second and later scored on a wild pitch. 
 
The Lady Eagles outhit the Rattlers, 8-7, with sophomore Aleyah Evans going 3-for-3 with two singles and a one-out double in the seventh that put the potential tying run in scoring position.
 
However, FAMU junior starter Veronica Burse retired the next two NCCU batters to end the contest in favor of the hosts. Burse (3-13) had six strikeouts and scattered eight hits, but her defense helped her out by retiring three base runners.
 
Sitterson (1-5) took the loss despite holding the Rattlers to two runs on seven hits and two walks.