RALEIGH, N.C. – Freshman pitcher/second baseman
Jaden Davis had the only hit for the North Carolina Central University softball team in a 10-0 loss to North Carolina State University at Dail Softball Stadium Tuesday evening.
NC State (18-3) scored its 10 runs on eight hits and eight walks.
The Wolfpack, who entered the contest ranked sixth in the nation in home runs per game, scored in all four innings they batted and NCSU scored four of those 10 runs on a pair of long balls.
Sophomore Libby Whittaker capped a four-run first for NC State with a three-run home to right field. The Wolfpack added four more runs in the third, including senior Carson Shaner launching a leadoff home run over the center field fence for her team-leading ninth home run.
Senior Brittany Jackson matched Whittaker with three RBI, reaching base in each of the first three innings, which was highlighted by an RBI-double in the second and a two-run single in the third.
Sophomore starting pitcher Sam Gress retired the first nine NCCU batters she faced before Davis broke up the perfect game by lacing a leadoff single up the middle to begin the fourth. Gress (7-1) only had one strikeout in her complete-game, one-hit shutout, but she did induce 12 infield outs.
Davis (2-4) started the game in the pitcher's circle for the Eagles and she recorded half of her eight outs via the strikeout in her 2 2/3 innings of work.
Sophomore
Jaylah Barr drew a one-out walk in the fifth to become NCCU's second and final base runner of the day. However, Davis was thrown out trying to steal second and Barr was erased on a game-ending double play as Gress faced the minimum in her five innings of work.
NC Central (2-13) will next make its long-awaited home debut when the Eagles entertain Western Carolina University for a non-conference doubleheader at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary on Tuesday, March 15 beginning at 2 p.m. Wednesday's originally scheduled game for NCCU at Elon has been rescheduled for March 22.
