BUIES CREEK, N.C. — The North Carolina Central University softball team was held scoreless in its final two games at the Campbell University Invitational on Sunday, dropping a 14-0 morning matchup to No. 12 University of Kentucky before suffering a narrow 1-0 loss in the nightcap to the host Camels.
NCCU (0-5 Overall) will next make its home debut at Thomas Brooks Park, hosting Robert Morris University for a pair of doubleheaders on Friday-Saturday, Feb. 26-27.
FIRST GAME: No. 12 Kentucky 14, NC Central 0 (5 Inn.)
The Wildcats scored nine runs in the fourth inning to pull away from a much-closer first three innings and stay undefeated on the season. Kentucky also beat Mount St. Mary's University 10-0 on Sunday to improve to 9-0 on the season, which includes five run-rule triumphs.
Five different Wildcats had multiple RBI with junior Kalya Kowalik and senior Grace Baalman leading the way by driving in three runs apiece. Baalman also had three of Kentucky's 12 hits.
Junior catcher
Madison Mifsud reached safely in both of her at bats for NCCU, drawing a walk in the second and singling in the fourth.
Senior
Joirea Dumas also singled to lead off the fourth and freshman
Hailey Batista was hit by a pitch to load the bases for NCCU. However, freshman reliever Stephanie Schoonover retired the next two batters to preserve the shutout. Sophomore Sloan Gayan (1-0) only allowed one hit over the first three innings to earn the win.
Dumas has hit safely in NCCU's first four games this season.
Senior
Kiara Hurley recorded her third complete game for the Eagles, but was unable to tame a Kentucky offense that is averaging 11.9 runs per game.
SECOND GAME: Campbell 1, NC Central 0
Hurley tossed her second gem in as many days, but once again was on the losing end of a 1-0 game in which the lone run was unearned. Hurley (0-4) limited Campbell to just two hits over her six innings of work with three strikeouts.
A throwing error allowed the Camels to score the deciding run in the second inning. Campbell went 3-1 in its season-opening home event.
Hurley's only two allowed hits were leadoff singles in the fifth and sixth innings that were both eliminated in double plays turned by the Eagles.
NCCU was held scoreless for a fourth time in five games.
Mifsud, who has matched Dumas by hitting safely in four of NCCU's first five games, accounted for the only maroon and gray extra-base hit of the day with a two-out double in the fourth.
Redshirt freshman Georgeanna Barefoot, who led Campbell with four shutouts last season, tallied 10 strikeouts on her way to her first scoreless outing of 2021.
