CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Kent State University scored all of its runs in the last two innings to push past North Carolina Central University, 8-2, at the Catamount Classic on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Eagles jumped out to a 1-0 lead on an RBI-single by sophomore Takia Nichols and freshman pitcher Xenna Tompkins was making that early run hold up until the Golden Flashes managed to score five runs in the sixth inning and three more in the seventh inning.
 
Kent State (8-8) was held to just two singles over the first five innings by Tomkins before taking advance of a couple plunked batters and an NCCU error to spark the big sixth inning. The Golden Flashes had two triples in that decisive frame, including a go-ahead, three-run triple of the bat of junior Savannah Wing.
 
Seven different KSU batters tallied a hit in the win to snap a five-game losing streak for the Golden Flashes. Wing led that group with two hits.
 
After junior Jaden Davis scored NCCU's opening run on the RBI-hit by Nichols, the Eagles had a chance to make it a big frame with the bases loaded with two outs, but freshman pitcher Megan Nuechterlein recorded the next out. Neuchterlein (6-3) retired 15 consecutive Eagles from that point on the way to her complete-game victory with five strikeouts.
 
Senior Hailey Batista doubled to begin the bottom of the seventh and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Jaidyn Hamby for NCCU's second run.
 
Senior Jaylah Barr was the only other NCCU batter with a hit and is the only Eagle to hit safely in NCCU's first two games of the three-day event. Nichols has now reached base safely in 10 consecutive games with her RBI-single.
 
NC Central (4-16) will conclude play at the Catamount Classic with two games on Sunday. The Eagles will first compete against Gardner-Webb University at 12:30 p.m., before hitting the diamond against Western Carolina University at 3 p.m.
 
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