COVINGTON, Ga. – Senior middle infielder Jaylah Barr hit a home run in each game and junior Jaden Davis tossed her first collegiate no hitter as the North Carolina Central University softball team defeated Jackson State University, 9-8, and Prairie View A&M University, 9-0, on Saturday afternoon at the HBCU Collegiate Softball Invitational at the Turner Lake Softball Complex.
 
NC Central (4-5) will conclude play at the HBCU Collegiate Softball Invitational with one game against Alabama A&M University on Sunday at noon.
 
GAME ONE: NC Central 9, Jackson State 8
 
The Eagles scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally NCCU to the dramatic one-run victory.
 
Barr highlighted the big frame with a three-run double to center field. Barr, who hit her first home run of the season to lead-off the second inning, finished the contest with two hits and four RBI.
 
The Eagles totaled 12 hits with sophomore Makiya Graves and senior Hailey Batista matching Barr with two hits apiece. Graves reached base in all four of her plate appearances, also drawing two walks. Batista, who doubled in the fourth, scored twice. Senior Imara Harrell had a two-run double in the fourth and added a third RBI in the sixth. Freshman Kendall Smith scored twice from the leadoff position and sophomore Takia Nichols chipped in a sacrifice fly.
 
Freshman Xenna Tompkins (1-0) made her first appearance in the pitcher's circle for the maroon and gray and was credited with her first collegiate win after hurling 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief while NCCU rallied past the Tigers.

Jackson State (5-2) constructed an 8-4 lead with the help of a grand slam by junior Julie Lopez before giving up four hits and two walks in the decisive sixth inning.
 
GAME TWO: NC Central 9, Prairie View A&M 0 (5 Inn.)
 
Davis recorded five strikeouts and retired 13 consecutive Panthers to end the game on the way to her first collegiate no hitter. The All-MEAC pitcher issued two walks in the first innings to prevent the perfect game, but was flawless from that point. Davis (1-4) got seven ground ball outs and only needed her outfielders on one play all game.
 
The Eagles jumped out quickly with two runs in the first and then completed the run-rule victory in five innings with a seven-run fourth inning.
 
Barr was once again a big bat for the Eagles, this time as the cleanup hitter. Barr tallied three of NCCU's 10 hits, starting with an RBI single in the first and another single in the third. The Preseason All-MEAC honoree capped her day with a three-run homer in the fourth.
 
Barr finished with five hits, including two home runs, and eight RBI in NCCU's two games on Saturday.
 
Davis helped her own cause by scoring twice. Graves, who also scored twice, chipped in an RBI double in the fourth to reach base six times on the day.
 
Other RBI producers for the Eagles included Smith, Harrell, junior Jaidyn Hamby and freshman Cameron Frye.
 
Prairie View (2-7) had won two straight games at the HBCU Invite before Davis and the Eagles held the Panthers hitless.
 
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.