CARY, N.C. — North Carolina Central University senior Courtney Mirabella struck out 17 and held visiting Savannah State to just two hits, but an RBI-triple by junior Cortni Jones lifted the Lady Tigers to a 1-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Southern Division win over the Lady Eagles at Thomas Brooks Park Friday afternoon.
 
Senior Amanda Hallman matched Mirabella by holding NCCU to just two hits, but Hallman kept the Lady Eagles off the board for the win. Hallman racked up eight strikeouts in her shutout victory.
 
Savannah State improved to 7-14 overall and 2-2 in the league. The Lady Eagles dipped to 6-16 and 0-4.
 
Sophomore Ava Dolan was the only maroon and gray player to reach scoring position when she ripped a two-out double to left field in the fourth. It was NCCU's first hit after Hallman retired the first 11 batters she faced. The Lady Eagles did not get another hit until a one-out single up the middle by junior Aleyah Evans in the seventh.
 
Mirabella's 17 strikeouts were her second most this season. She fanned the first nine Lady Tigers she faced before senior Shelby Eccles got the visitors first hit with an infield single to start the fourth. Mirabella used two more K's to keep Eccles stranded on second after a sac bunt.
 
Savannah State was able to scratch out the lone run of the contest in the top of the seventh. Senior Brianna Harris, who is the league's second best hitter entering the contest with a .462 batting average, drew a one-out walk on a close pitch with a full count and then scored from first on Jones' triple that went to the right-field fence.
 
Jones paces the Lady Tigers with 15 RBI.
 
Mirabella's (5-10) quality start was her third loss she has suffered this season with no run support.
 
The two teams will conclude the MEAC series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.