CARY, N.C. – North Carolina Central University outhit the visiting Bears of Mercer University, but the Eagles committed five errors that resulted in three unearned runs and a 9-7 loss at Thomas Brooks Park on Thursday night.
 
NCCU (4-18) recorded 10 hits with four different Eagles - Hailey Batista, Joirea Dumas, Olivia Daniel and Imara Harrell - accounting for two hits apiece. Dumas led the way by going 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, her league-lead-tying third home run of the season, and three runs batted in.
 
With the score tied at 2-2 after three innings, Mercer (14-14) exploded for five runs in the fourth and added two more in the fifth for a commanding 9-2 advantage.
 
The Eagles battled back with a run in the fifth, three in the sixth and another in the seventh, but they left runners stranded in each of those innings and came up two runs short.
 
NCCU senior Kiara Hurley tallied four strikeouts, scattered nine hits and surrendered six earned runs in the loss. Ashlyn Donner earned the win for the Bears to lift her record to 5-4.
 
The Eagles and Bears reunite on Friday, April 2, for a doubleheader at Thomas Brooks Park starting at noon.