CARY, N.C. — Sophomore catcher Madison Mifsud provided the North Carolina Central University softball team with an RBI-single in the first inning of both games, but visiting Siena College had already captured the lead for good each time in sweeping Tuesday's doubleheader at Thomas Brooks Park by scores of 11-2 and 11-1.
 
Senior Dalika Wallace and juniors Joirea Dumas and Olivia Daniel all joined Mifsud with a hit in each end of the twin bill for the host Eagles in their home opener.
 
Siena (3-8 Overall) tallied 27 total hits in the sweep.
 
NC Central (1-15) will next play five games in the Lafayette Ford Lincoln of Fayetteville Showcase softball tournament hosted by UNCW from Friday-Sunday, March 13-15.
 
GAME ONE: Siena 11, NC Central 2
 
Junior Taylor Rhinehart drove in five runs in helping the Saints to the run-rule victory in six innings. Siena scored four runs in both the first and second innings with Rhinehart supplying a two-run double in both frames. She capped her big performance with a sac fly in the sixth.
 
The Saints scored their 11 runs on 14 hits, including five doubles and two triples.
 
NCCU got on the board in the bottom of the first with an RBI-single by Mifsud. Wallace started the rally with an infield single and eventually scored on Mifsud's base hit to center field.
 
Senior Tamiera Sanchez drew a leadoff walk in the third. After she stole second base, Sanchez was able to score NCCU's second run on a double belted by Dumas into the right field gap.
 
Senior Maddie McMahon limited the Eagles to just two runs (one earned) on five hits in her complete-game victory. McMahon (2-3) earned her second win of the season with six strikeouts over her six innings of work.
 
GAME TWO: Siena 11, NC Central 1
 
The Saints once again scored 11 runs in the nightcap to complete the sweep. Nine different Siena batters recorded hits on the way to the 10-run triumph in five innings.
 
Junior Isabelle DeChiaro and freshman Angelina Stile led the victors with three RBI apiece.
 
Mifsud drove in her second run of the day with a single to right in the bottom of the first. Wallace and Dumas started the two-out rally with consecutive singles before Mifsud plated Wallace with NCCU's third consecutive base knock. 
 
However, the Eagles were held to just three more hits over the final four innings, including a trio of Siena relievers all pitching one scoreless inning. NCCU had runners on base in every inning, but a couple of double plays helped the Saints maintain the lead from the start.
 
Siena scored twice in the first before pulling away with a six-run second inning.
 
All six NCCU hits were singles. Junior Jacobia Johnson went 2-for-2 with singles in the second and fourth.
 
Junior pitcher Caroline Campbell (1-7) tossed all 11 innings for the maroon and gray on the day.