NORFOLK, Va. — Freshman catcher Hailey Batista drove in three runs for North Carolina Central University, but Northern Division champion Morgan State University hit three home runs to secure a narrow 4-3 win in the opening round of the 2021 MEAC Softball Championship Thursday afternoon at the Norfolk State University Softball Field.
 
Due to the loss, the Eagles will next have to play an elimination game against North Carolina A&T State University on Friday at 3 p.m. NCCU (11-30 Overall) will need to win that game and then win a second elimination game on Friday at 6 p.m., in order to advance to championship Saturday. If the Eagles advance, the second elimination game will be against the loser of Friday's winner bracket game that will be played at noon between Morgan State (22-15) and host Norfolk State.
 
The Bears scored all four of their runs on three homers, including a pair of round-trippers off the bat of senior Haylee Bobos.
 
In the bottom of the first inning, Bobos blasted a quick laser shot over the fence in right-center to put MSU up 2-0. Her second homer came moments after NCCU senior starting pitcher Kiara Hurley was hit by comeback liner of a groundout in the sixth in which Hurley had to throw a couple of warmup pitches to see if she could stay in the game. Bobos took advantage of the rattled hurler with her second long ball of the day and fourth of the season.
 
Sophomore Melissa Paz followed with her own solo shot to left as the Bears hit back-to-back homers to left field. Her first home run of the season proved to be an important insurance run for herself.
 
Paz, who started the game at third base, took over in the pitcher's circle with Morgan State clinging to a 2-1 lead and with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth. Paz induced an ensuing inning-ending, 5-2 double play to keep the designated hosts ahead.
 
After the Bears extended their lead to 4-1, Paz did give up two run on a deep double over the centerfielder by Batista. However, Paz got a fly out to center a couple of batters later with Batista representing the potential game-tying run on second base to tally her third save of the campaign.
 
Batista broke up the shutout bid of senior Stephanie Rundlett with a sacrifice fly in the third inning. Senior Tamiera Sanchez scored on the play after leading off the inning with a double.
 
Rundlett (10-7) notched her second win of the season over NCCU as the three-time All-MEAC honoree allowed just one run on four hits over 4 1/3 innings of work with five strikeouts.
 
Hurley (7-17) took the loss. She tossed another complete game, but gave up all three home runs.
 
Both teams had seven hits with freshman Imara Harrell leading the Eagles with a pair of base hits, including a leadoff triple in the fifth that NCCU was unable to manufacture into a run.