WASHINGTON, D.C. – North Carolina Central University junior outfielder
Imara Harrell collected a pair of hits and drove in multiple runs in each end of Friday's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference softball doubleheader at the Nationals Youth Academy. NCCU won the first game 11-3 before host Howard University rallied to win the second game 11-7.
The Eagles finished the day still tied for first place in the league standings despite seeing its nine-game conference win streak come to an end in the nightcap.
NC Central (11-23, 9-1 MEAC) and Howard (11-19, 4-5 MEAC) will play the rubber game of the MEAC series on Saturday with first pitched scheduled for noon.
GAME ONE: NC Central 11, Howard 3 (6 Innings)
After NCCU staked Howard to a 2-nil edge with one run in each of the first two innings, the Eagles flew ahead for good with a seven-run top of the third inning. The frame was highlighted by a two-run triple that Harrell ripped down the left-field line. Freshman
Takia Nichols also supplied an RBI in the big stanza.
Harrell, Nichols and freshman
Nyla Rodgers all tallied two hits in the triumph as they accounted for six of NCCU's eight hits. The Eagles also drew eight walks.
Redshirt junior
Morgan Green drilled a two-run homer in the top of fifth to extend NCCU's cushion to seven runs at 9-2. Green, who had one collegiate homer in three seasons at Savannah State, blasted her first career home run representing the maroon and gray to center field.
Green becomes the ninth Eagle to hit a home run this season for an NCCU squad that leads the MEAC with 30 homers.
Freshman leadoff hitter
Makiya Graves, the reigning MEAC Rookie of the Week, had her nine-game hit streak come to an end, but she was still productive by drawing three walks and scoring two times. A total of Eight different Eagles scored on the day with Graves, Nichols and junior
Ivory Jones all crossing home plate twice.
Howard (10-19 Overall, 3-5 MEAC) scored its last run in the home half of the fifth before Rodgers knocked in the final two NCCU runs with a double to center in the top of the sixth.
NCCU sophomore pitcher
Jaden Davis settled down for another quality start and did not allow a run in a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth to complete the eight-run rule victory. Davis improved to 5-0 in league play with a complete game performance, scattering six hits and allowing just one earned run while striking out two Bison.
GAME TWO: Howard 11, NC Central 7
The Bison scored nine unanswered runs to comeback from a five-run deficit and hand the Eagles their first conference loss of the season. Howard ripped 13 hits in the triumph and the Bison account for the only league loss the two MEAC front runners have been dealt (NC Central and Morgan State).
The Eagles constructed a 7-2 lead by scoring multiple runs in each of the first three innings and, just like in the first game, Harrell once again had NCCU's most noteworthy hit during NCCU's run. This time, Harrell hit a bases-clearing, three-run double in the second inning. Harrell also walked, stole a base and scored in the first inning.
Graves drew two more walks, scored two more times and had an RBI-single in the third.
NCCU spread its eight hits across seven batters with Harrell being the only Eagle with two base knocks.
Howard took the lead for good with five runs in the home half of the third and added runs in each of the next three innings to prevail by four runs. Sophomore Sidney Fletcher led the Bison with three hits and four RBI.
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