CULLOWHEE, N.C. — Sophomore third baseman Ava Dolan drove in all four North Carolina Central University runs in 5-0 and 6-4 non-conference doubleheader loss at Western Carolina University in softball action Thursday afternoon.
 
The Catamounts hit a pair of two-run homers in each game and rode the left-handed arm of junior Lily Hayes to win their home openers.
 
Western Carolina improved to 8-14 overall and NCCU dropped to 6-12.
 
GAME ONE: Western Carolina 5, N.C. Central 0
 
Hayes hurled a one-hit shutout in the first contest. She took a no-hitter into the seventh inning until junior Aleyah Evans hit a clean blooper over third base and into outfield grass with one out in the last frame. Hayes racked up a career-high 11 strikeouts in the win.
 
WCU led from the first inning, starting with a two-run blast by junior Madison Armstrong. Sophomore Ashlyn Long connected for the Catamounts other two-run shot in the fourth.
 
Hayes retired the first 12 Eagles she faced before a potential perfect game was thwarted when she plunked Evans with a pitch to start the fifth. Six more NCCU batters were retired in order by Hayes before she hit another Eagle with a pitch in sophomore Dalika Wallace to begin the seventh. After a fielder's choice, Evans came up with NCCU's lone hit to put a runner in scoring position for the only time. Hayes ended the threat and game with her 11th K.
 
GAME TWO: Western Carolina 6, N.C. Central 4
 
The Lady Eagles flew out to a 4-0 lead, but Western Carolina scored five unearned runs late on two costly errors to rally for the win the nightcap.
 
Dolan provided NCCU's big bat against sophomore starter Kinsey Liscio. She launched her fourth home run to straightaway center in the first and then ripped a two-run double down the right field line in the third.
 
Senior Courtney Mirabella had the Eagles' first hit and scored on Dolan's round-tripper. Junior Miriam Duen picked up the first of her two singles in the third adn she scored on Dolan's double.
 
Hayes returned to the pitcher's circle for the Catamounts in the fourth and she limited NCCU to just three singles over the final four innings. Hayes improved to 3-6 overall with her second win of the day after holding the Lady Eagles scoreless for all 11 of her total innings pitched.
 
Mirabella tossed the whole game for the maroon and gray. WCU was able to score its only earned run on Mirabella in the fourth before a couple infield errors led to five unearned runs over the next two innings. The big blows came on two-run homers off the bats of junior Hunter Gibbons and sophomore Erica Hayes.
 
Mirabella (5-7) finished with seven strikeouts. Freshman Jessica Powell matched Dolan and Duen as NCCU outhit WCU by two, 8-6.