WILMINGTON, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University softball team scored a season-high eight runs in its nightcap on Saturday, but still suffered a pair of losses on day two of a three-team tournament hosted by UNC Wilmington. The Eagles fell 8-0 to the host Seahawks and then lost 14-8 to Canisius College.
NC Central (2-10 Overall) will conclude play in Wilmington with a third game in three days against Canisius. Sunday's contest has been moved up to a 9:30 a.m. start with the potential of rain forecasted in the area.
GAME ONE: UNCW 8, NC Central 0 (5 Innings)
The Seahawks run-ruled the Eagles for a second straight day by scoring in four consecutive innings. UNCW finished with nine hits and five walks. Sophomore Tayler Vitola paced the victors with three hits from the leadoff position.
Freshman starting pitcher Kara Hammock held NCCU to just one hit, a single by freshman
Jaidyn Hamby to start the top of the fourth inning. Hammock (4-2) did issue five walks, but she only allowed one Eagle to reach second base in her complete-game shutout.
UNCW also beat Canisius 4-1 on Saturday as the Seahawks improved to 12-3 on the season.
GAME TWO: Canisius 14, NC Central 8
The Eagles flew out to a 7-2 lead after the first inning, but the Griffins scored multiple runs in the second, third and seventh innings to rally for the victory.
Junior third baseman
Maegan Garrison highlighted play for the maroon and gray by hitting a pair of home runs in her first two at bats in the contest. Garrison capped NCCU's big first inning with a three-run homer and then she launched a solo homer in the third inning.
Garrison, who only had one home run in her first two seasons at NCCU, now moves into a tie for the team lead in homers, tying sophomore
Jaylah Barr with two apiece.
Hamby added two more hits and has hit safely in three consecutive games.
NCCU's first inning also included an RBI-double by sophomore
Hailey Batista between a pair of run-producing singles off the bats of senior
Madison Mifsud and freshman
Jai'lyn Edwards.
Canisius (7-5) has won three of its first four games this weekend and freshman Saige Alfaro highlighted play for the Griffins with three extra-base hits, three RBI and three runs scored.
