CLEARWATER, Fla. – Freshman outfielder Kendall Smith provided a single and a triple to highlight play for the North Carolina Central University softball team in a 4-0 loss to Indiana University at the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Sunday morning.
 
The Hoosiers scored in three consecutive innings starting in the second innings to provide enough offense for sophomore starting pitcher Sophia Kleiman (1-0), who tallied eight strikeouts over her five innings of shutout work for her first win of the season.
 
Indiana (4-1) racked up nine hits with junior Taylor Minnick, sophomore Avery Parker and freshman Aly VanBrandt all supplying two base hits.
 
Smith reached third base in both the first and third innings to give NCCU its best scoring opportunities. The rookie from Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, finished the season-opening event with a team-high six hits over five games.
 
Senior shortstop Jaylah Barr tallied NCCU's third and final hit with a single in the seventh inning.
 
Junior Jaden Davis (0-3) tossed a complete game for the Eagles, but got no run support in her second straight start against a Power Five program from the Big Ten conference (lost to Iowa on Saturday).
 
NC Central (1-4) will next play five games in the first annual HBCU Collegiate Softball Invitational at the Turner Lake Sports Complex Parks & Recreation Center in Covington, Georgia, on Friday-Sunday, Feb. 16-18.
 
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