ORMOND BEACH, Fla. — Morgan State University scratched out two early runs and made it stick in holding North Carolina Central University scoreless in a quick 2-0 win in the opening round of the 2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Championship Tournament at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex Wednesday afternoon.
The Lady Bears, who are the top-seed from the Northern Division, improved to 28-15 overall and will play the winner of the of the No. 2S seeded Florida A&M University versus No. 3N seeded Delaware State University game on Thursday at 3 p.m. The fourth-seeded Lady Eagles (17-25) from the Southern Division will play the loser of that FAMU/DSU game in an elimination game on Thursday at Noon. If NCCU stays alive, it will play a second elimination game Thursday at 5 p.m.
The showdown featured a pair of senior aces that entered the contest with 15 wins apiece (tied for first in the league). MEAC Pitcher of the Year Amy Begg (16-6) held NCCU scoreless to earn the win while First Team All-MEAC honoree
Courtney Mirabella (15-15) suffered the loss despite only allowing two hits. Begg fanned six batters and Mirabella whiffed five.
Senior catcher Anissa Morales drew a one-out walk in the second and eventually scored on a fielding error to give the Lady Bears the early advantage.
Junior outfielder Damali Young was responsible for the only earned run of the day in the third. She led of the frame with a double down the left field line. After swiping third base, Young was able to avoid a tag at the plate in scoring on an RBI fielder's choice bunt by freshman Gabriella Gorosave.
The Lady Eagles outhit Morgan State, 3-2, with infield singles by senior
Lauren Sitterson, freshman
Jessica Powell and freshman
Jacobia Johnson. However, all three never got into scoring position. NCCU's best scoring chance came when sophomore
Dalika Wallace drew a leadoff walk in the fifth and stole second base. However, Begg ended the threat with a strikeout.
Sitterson added a walk to her hit to pace the maroon and gray offense.
Full coverage of the 2018 MEAC Tournament can be accessed at MEACSports.com and NCCUEaglePride.com.
