ORANGEBURG, S.C. — The North Carolina Central University softball team sealed a spot in the 2021 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Championship with a 2-1 and 6-4 doubleheader sweep at Southern Division foe South Carolina State University on Saturday.
The Eagles needed three extra innings to clinch the series opening victory with senior
Kiara Hurley tossing all 10 innings for the win. Hurley then hurled two more scoreless innings of relief to save the nightcap.
NC Central improved to 9-29 overall and 7-7 in the MEAC. The Lady Bulldogs fell to 4-24 and 3-12. The two teams will complete the four-game weekend series with another doubleheader on Sunday beginning at noon.
GAME ONE: NC Central 2, South Carolina St. 1 (10 Inn.)
Reigning MEAC Freshman of the Week
Imara Harrell ripped an extra-base hit in the top of the 10th inning to score senior
K'Lea Parks for the game-winning run.
Harrell had a pair of hits with her first base knock leading to NCCU's first run in the fifth. She tripled and then scored on a sac fly by senior
Tamiera Sanchez.
The Lady Bulldogs were able to score an unearned run in the bottom of the third to take the initial lead. Freshman Jade Hendricks drove in the run with a double.
Hurley continued her strong pitching in league play, tossing all 10 innings without allowing an earned run. Hurley notched her fifth win of the season, holding South Carolina State to just three hits over her 10 innings of work. She also had three strikeouts.
Freshman DeAsia Lowther kept SCSU in the contest with 10 strong innings of work for the home team. Lowther (3-12) only allowed one earned run while scattering seven hits to the Eagles.
GAME TWO: NC Central 6, South Carolina St. 4
Freshman
Hailey Batista drove in three runs and Hurley closed the door on the twin bill sweep with her third save of the season. Batista picked up her first RBI with a sac fly in the third and her next two RBI on a triple in the fourth.
Sanchez and fellow senior
Nadia Blevins both scored twice for the victorious Eagles. Classmate
Joirea Dumas knocked in her team-best 20th run and senior
Olivia Daniel posted a pair of doubles with one RBI.
Senior
Caroline Campbell (4-5) tallied her fourth win of the season with 3 2/3 innings of relief. Hurley hurled the final two innings and once again did not allow an earned run. Hurley has not allowed an earned run in her 29 innings pitched.
The Lady Bulldogs matched the Eagles with eight hits apiece, but they left eight runners on base. Hendricks tallied a pair of hits while driving in one run and scoring once.