SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Senior outfielder
Aleyah Evans and sophomore first baseman
Olivia Daniel both launched home runs in leading the North Carolina Central University softball team to a 6-5 victory over Robert Morris University in Sunday's opener of the Wings Etc. Classic.
The Eagles lost their next game, 14-0, to host USC Upstate to finish the rain-shortened event 1-1.
NC Central (2-7) will make its home debut on Tuesday when the Lady Eagles host Western Carolina University in a non-conference doubleheader at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary starting at 1 p.m.
FINAL: NC Central 6, Robert Morris 5
Daniel and Evans ripped their two-run homers in the top of the fourth and the Lady Eagles then held off a late rally by the Colonials. They both deposited their first home runs of the season over the left field fence.
Robert Morris (2-3) took the initial lead as senior Abrielle McCartney hit her own two-run home run to start the scoring in the bottom of the third. McCartney led the Colonials with two hits and three RBI.
However, it just took five batters in NCCU's next at bat to jump ahead. Freshman
Madison Mifsud started the rally with a double to left and she scored on Daniel's first home run in a maroon and gray uniform. Junior
Dalika Wallace drew a walk on the ensuing NCCU plate appearance and later scored on a one-out blast by Evans, her sixth career long ball for the Lady Eagles.
NCCU tacked on two important insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Sophomore
Nadia Blevins produced a one-out single and stole second base before scoring on a base knock by sophomore pinch hitter
Kaitlyn Macon. A third error by the Colonials helped junior pinch runner
Tehillah Duffy score the final run for the Lady Eagles.
Robert Morris was able to score three runs in the home half, including the contests' fourth two-run homer off the bat of junior Natalie Higgins. The Colonials then put the potential game-tying runner on base with their fourth hit of the inning, before NCCU sophomore starter
Kiara Hurley was able to get a groundout to end the threat.
Hurley notched her second win of the season after scattering eight hits over seven innings of work with four strikeouts.
NCCU's five hits were produced by five different Lady Eagles.
FINAL: USC Upstate 14, NC Central 0 (5 innings)
The Spartans improved to an impressive 8-1 with a pair of five-innings wins on Sunday. Upstate scored its 14 runs against the Lady Eagles on nine hits, including five extra-base hits, and five walks.
Junior Alyssa Oakes had the big bat for the victors, driving in six runs on two hits. Oakes started the Spartans scoring with a three-run homer in the first and then came up with a three-run double in a six-run fourth.
NCCU was held to just two hits – an infield single by Mifsud in the first and a single up the middle by Evans to start the third.
Junior transfer Celina Sullivan (1-0) secured her first win for the Spartans. She only gave up two hits and did not issue a walk in the complete-game victory.
