DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University sophomore pitcher Kiara Hurley has been named the NCCU Student-Athlete of the Month for May 2019 in recognition of her outstanding performance on the field and in the classroom.
 
Hurley picked up a pair of wins and posted a 2.80 ERA in four appearances in the 2019 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship tournament to cap a strong first season at NCCU. She earned MEAC All-Tournament Team honors for her two postseason wins in May that featured 16 strikeouts over 20 innings of work.
 
In an elimination game, Hurley recorded eight strikeouts to keep NCCU's championship hopes alive with a 2-0 complete-game victory over Coppin State University, which was her fourth shutout of the season. That same day, Hurley went the distance again as NCCU rallied to upset and eliminate the top-seed from the Northern Division in Norfolk State University in a tight 3-2 battle.
 
Hurley transferred to NCCU from Eastern Michigan University and finished her first season representing the maroon and gray with 18 wins and a 3.18 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 193.2 innings pitched. Her 18 wins matched NCCU's modern era record for wins in a single season, matching 18 wins by Courtney Mirabella in 2018. Hurley ranked second in the MEAC with 133 total strikeouts on the season.
 
The southpaw entered the final month of the season with a huge 3-1 win over No. 24 ranked University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on April 30. Hurley was the victor in 18 of NCCU's DI era program record 23 wins in 2019.
 
The resident of Maumee, Ohio, was named Second Team NCCSIA All-State and Second Team All-MEAC after earning back-to-back MEAC Pitcher of the Week awards.
 
Hurley holds a 3.76 cumulative grade point average (GPA) after the 2018-19 academic year. She is an accounting major and hopes to work for the FBI in forensic accounting.
 
For a complete list of award winners, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.