DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University softball team will play in its second of three consecutive five-game weekend events when the Eagles participate in the first annual HBCU Collegiate Softball Invitational at the Turner Lake Softball Complex in Covington, Georgia, on Friday-Sunday, Feb. 16-18.
 
All five teams NCCU will be playing at the HBCU Invite are from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC): Alabama State University, Alcorn State University, Jackson State University, Prairie View A&M University and Alabama A&M University.
 
EVENT INFO
 
Tournament Central
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GAME INFO
 
Friday, Feb. 16
12:00 PM – NC Central vs. Alabama State; Field 1; GameChanger
06:00 PM – NC Central vs. Alcorn State; Field 1; GameChanger
 
Saturday, Feb. 17
12:00 PM – Jackson State vs. NC Central; Field 1; GameChanger
04:00 PM – Prairie View A&M vs. NC Central; Field 1; GameChanger
 
Sunday, Feb. 18
12:00 PM – NC Central vs. Alabama A&M; Field 2; GameChanger
 
NC Central Dugout
 
The Eagles went 1-4 in the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic, picking up an extra-inning win over University of Central Arkansas. NC Central (1-4) will be playing all five of its opponents in the HBCU Collegiate Softball Invitational for the first time under fourth-year head coach Cat Tarvin.
 
Freshman outfielder Kendall Smith (.375) was named MEAC Rookie of the Week after collecting a team-high six hits at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Sophomore shortstop Makiya Graves, who led NCCU in batting average last season, sits in that same spot after one week of play this season with an early .400 average.
 
The junior duo of Ashanti Eubanks (1-1, 4.12 ERA) and Jaden Davis (0-3, 5.35 ERA), who both earn MEAC All-Tournament Team honors in NCCU's run to the league title last season, pitched every inning for the maroon and gray last week.

NC Central played Alabama State and Prairie View A&M in the Chef Celeste Softball Challenge hosted by Southern University in 2019, losing both games, for its only contest against either team. The Eagles lost their only match-up against Alabama A&M at the Tiny Laster Invitational in 2015 just before defeating Jackson State that same day in its last game against the Tigers. NCCU will be playing Alcorn State for the first time in its modern era.

Alabama State Dugout
 
The Hornets picked up one win at the Stinger Classic that ASU hosted in Montgomery, Alabama, last weekend, defeating Purdue Fort Wayne. Alabama State (1-3) went 30-21 last season, including 17-7 in the SWAC, and is the favorite to win the SWAC East this season.
 
Outfielder Kindall DeRamus is the two-time reigning SWAC Player of the Year and she is batting .455 with one triple, two RBI and one run to begin the season. Senior second baseman Jaeda Gardner (.833, 2 SB) and junior Alexia Denby (.182) joined DeRamus on the Preseason All-SWAC First Team this season.
 
Alcorn State Dugout
 
The Lady Braves tallied two wins at the River City Classic before dropping a doubleheader to University of Louisiana at Monroe on Wednesday. Alcorn (2-3) went 19-30 last season, including 11-13 in the SWAC, and is picked to finish fourth out of six teams in the SWAC West this season.
 
Senior outfielder Kristian Edwards (.267) is a Preseason All-SWAC Second Team selection. Veterans Hannah Miller (.333, 3 RBI) and Kelsey Lockridge (.300) are both batting over .300 while Genise Wells (.222) has a team-high four RBI.
 
Jackson State Dugout
 
The Tigers posted an undefeated record at the River City Classic that JSU hosted last weekend. Jackson State (3-0) went 24-27 last season, including a 13-11 mark in the SWAC, and is picked to finish fourth out of six teams in the SWAC East.
 
Junior outfielder Mari Stephens (.167, 2 RBI) is a Preseason All-SWAC Second Team selection. A quartet of Tigers have started in all three wins and are batting over .400 in junior Meah Almaraz (.500, 2 RBI, 2 R), sophomore Jace Jackson (.500, 2 RBI, 3 R), freshman Kaliyah Gibson (.455, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 SB) and junior Julie Lopez (.429, 4 RBI). Senior Victoria Salazar (1-1, 2.92 ERA) has pitched the majority of JSU's innings this season.
 
Prairie View A&M Dugout
 
The Panthers dropped all five games they played at the Cardinal Invite hosted by Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, last week. Prairie View A&M (0-5) is the two-time defending SWAC champions and went 30-20 last season, including an incredible 22-2 in league play, and is the favorite to win the SWAC West this season.
 
PVAMU returns its top two pitchers from its championship season last season in junior Cailin Massey (0-1, 3.71 ERA) and senior Jerrica Rojas (0-1, 18.00 ERA). They are both on the Preseason All-SWAC Teams this season after they led the Panthers with 11 wins apiece last season. Sophomore Mia Nunez (.267, 2 RBI, 2 R, 1 SB), a Preseason All-SWAC First Team honoree this year has a team-best four hits this season.
 
Alabama A&M Dugout
 
The Bulldogs also played in the River City Classic and picked up an opening win over Arlington Baptist before losing to Texas A&M Corpus Christi. Alabama A&M (1-1) went 22-19 last season, including 13-11 in conference contests, and is picked to finish fifth out of six teams in the SWAC East.
 
Senior Serena Herbranson (.333, 1 RBI, 3 R) and junior Zahria Jones (.250, 3 RBI) were both named to the Preseason All-SWAC First Team. Junior Katie Puckett (.667, 3 RBI, 1 SB) and freshman Tori Green (.600, 3 R, 1 SB) top AAMU's lineup so far this season. Graduate student Cris-Deona Beasley (1-0, 0-0 ERA), a transfer from Florida A&M, tossed a complete-game shutout in her first appearance at AAMU.
 
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.