CARY, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University softball team scored in its last two innings, but was unable to overcome an early deficit in dropping Saturday's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference series finale to Coppin State University, 9-3, at Thomas Brooks Park.
 
NCCU was held scoreless for the first five innings by CSU senior pitcher Vanessa Carrizosa before freshman Kendall Smith and junior Jai'lyn Edwards picked up matching RBI by drawing bases-loaded walks in the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
Senior Hailey Batista capped NCCU's scoring with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning.
 
The host Eagles had several other chances to score, leaving 11 runners stranded on base, but Carrizosa (8-9) limited NCCU to just three runs in her second-straight, complete-game victory in as many days.
 
Freshman Adriana Person led the maroon and gray with two hits, including a seeing-eyed triple that just escaped the grasp a racing second baseman just inside the right-field foul line.
 
All nine Coppin State batters had at least one hit and/or walk, and eight of those visiting Eagles drove in a run. A four-run top of the first inning put CSU ahead from the early stages and eventually leveled its overall record at 12-12 while staying in a two-way tie for second place in the league standings with a 7-2 MEAC ledger.
 
NC Central (9-25, 5-4) will next host Western Carolina University in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday beginning at 3 p.m.
 
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