CARY, N.C. — All three North Carolina Central University softball seniors had productive outings in their last home games of their collegiate careers as the Lady Eagles split a non-conference doubleheader against Appalachian State University at Thomas Brooks Park Wednesday.
Senior
Courtney Mirabella picked up a win in the pitcher's circle, senior
Lauren Sitterson hit a home run in each contest and senior
Fallon Roberson drew a pair of walks in three plate appearances. The trio were all honored between games Wednesday.
NCCU won the first game 1-0 and then lost a 12-6 slugfest to the Mountaineers in a lengthy nightcap.
NCCU (10-21 Overall) next plays a twin bill at Norfolk State University on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
GAME ONE: N.C. Central 1, Appalachian State 0
The two starting seniors led the Lady Eagles to the one-run victory. Sitterson hit her first home run of the season to account for the lone run and Mirabella tossed a two-hit shutout.
Sitterson nailed her solo shot to straightaway center with one out in the bottom of the third inning. Her long ball proved to be all the run support Mirabella needed from the pitcher's circle.
Mirabella fanned 13 Mountaineers on the way to her fifth shutout of the season. Mirabella (9-12) limited App State to just two hits on the way to her ninth win.
The visitors best chance at scoring was right at the beginning of the contest. Sophomore Keri White started the game with a walk and a stolen base. Classmate Laura Sales followed with an infield single to give the Mountaineers runners on the corners with no outs. However, Mirabella wiggled out of the early jam as White was thrown out trying to swipe home on a double steal before Mirabella posted the first two of her 13 K's.
There were only five hits in the contest, three of which came off NCCU bats.
GAME TWO: Appalachian State 12, N.C. Central 6
The Mountaineers scored in each of the first six innings to earn the split. App State totaled 15 hits and got a game-high three RBI from senior Heather Josey.
The Lady Eagles trailed 7-1 before using the long ball to pull within one. Sitterson sent her second home run of the day over the center field fence to start the five-run rally in the fourth.
Sophomore
Ava Dolan capped the big frame with a grand slam to inch NCCU within one at 7-6. Dolan's ninth home run of the season – which is a new NCCU Division I record – extended her hit steak to 13 games.
App State answered with four runs on two homers in the top of the fifth to stay ahead for good. Josey and freshman Megan Wilson hit the pair of decisive two-run blasts for the victors in the fifth.
Mirabella started the game for NCCU and suffered the loss despite four of the six runs allowed being unearned. She added three more strikeouts for 16 on the day, which increased her total to 210 on the season (a new all-time NCCU record).
Sophomore Callie Kuykendall (3-4) tossed the first four innings to earn the win for the Mountaineers, while junior Katie Williford hurled three innings of scoreless relief for her first save.
App State improved to 14-22 with the win.
Sitterson paced the Lady Eagles with three hits in the contest and four for the day.
