DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University softball team returns home to host Mercer in a single game on Thursday and a doubleheader Friday.
GAME INFO:
DATE: Thursday, April 1 (7:00 PM) & Friday, April 2 (12 PM/DH)
LOCATION: Thomas Brooks Park, Cary, N.C.
MULTIMEDIA: Audio broadcast via NCCUEaglePride.com
FOLLOW: Live Stats via NCCUEaglePride.com; @NCCUAthletics
NC CENTRAL DUGOUT:
The Eagles are coming into the series winning four out of their last five contests. This includes winning three of four games during a weekend series at Florida A&M to open MEAC play. During the third game of series, NCCU posted a season-high 12 hits helping the team move to a 4-17 record on the season.
Junior
Madison Mifsud added four hits over the weekend to raise her batting average to a team-high .321. Senior first baseman
Joirea Dumas leads the Eagles with 18 hits, a .400 on-base percentage, and a team-high five extra base knocks.
Freshman outfielder
Imara Harrell hit a combined 6-for-8 on Saturday to claim both MEAC Player and Rookie of the Week awards, and now has .606 OPS (on-base plus slugging), including seven runs scored on the season. Freshman infielder
Hailey Batista leads the Eagles in runs and RBI with 10 apiece. During the weekend, senior
Tamiera Sanchez tallied seven hits, including one double and two RBI.
Senior
Kiara Hurley (2-11, 5.00 ERA, 40 K, 82.2 IP) picked up two wins and a save during the matchup with the Rattlers to earn MEAC Pitcher of the Week honors. Senior
Caroline Campbell (2-3, 7.00 ERA, 9 K, 29.0 IP) allowed just three runs with three strikeouts to pick up her second win of the season against the Rattlers.
MERCER DUGOUT:
The Bears come in with a 13-14 record. However, they have dropped four out of their last five games.
A trio of Bears are batting over .300 on the season, including senior infielder Danielle Castleberry (.354, 12 R, 15 RBI), senior outfielder Micayla Rood (.347, 17 R), and sophomore outfielder Elisa Rosado (.311, 21 R, 11 RBI).
Freshman pitcher Madi Joice (4-4, 4.43 ERA, 31 K, 61.0 IP) has seen the most action in the circle for the Bears this season. Senior Amber Byrd (3-4, 5.33 ERA, 41 K, 49.0 IP), sophomore Ashlyn Donner (4-4, 5.93 ERA, 16 K, 54.2 IP), and sophomore Riley Hickok (2-2, 8.44 ERA, 4 K, 10.2 IP) round out the Mercer pitching staff.
