ROCK HILL, S.C. – Juniors Jaylah Barr and Hailey Batista both hit home runs for the North Carolina Central University softball team as the Eagles tried to rally against Harvard University, but the Crimson were able to hold on for a 5-4 win on Sunday morning at the Winthrop Garnet & Gold Tournament.
 
Harvard (3-1) constructed a 4-nil lead with a pair of runs in both the top of the first and third innings before Barr launched a two-run homer over the fence in left center field in the bottom of the third. Barr's second home run of the season trimmed the score to 4-2.
 
Each team added a run in the fifth. Batista started NCCU's home half with a blooper just into the outfield beyond the shortstop for a double. Batista would later score on a clean single through the left side of the infield by sophomore Jaden Davis.
 
Two innings later, Batista drilled a solo home run to left center to begin the bottom of the seventh to inch the maroon and gray within one run. However, sophomore reliever Katie Arrambide was able to retire NCCU's three next batters to pickup a save for Howard.
 
Sophomore Allison Heffley led the Crimson with two hits, including an RBI single in the first and a leadoff double in the fifth. Heffley eventually scored in that frame to account for Harvard's last important insurance run.
 
In the circle, freshman Riley Flynn (1-0) picked up the win after holding NCCU to two runs over her four innings of work with five strikeouts.
 
Batista and Davis would each finish with two hits for the Eagles.
 
NC Central (0-11) is next scheduled to play a doubleheader at nationally-ranked Duke University on Wednesday beginning at 4 p.m.
 
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