SALISBURY, Md. – The North Carolina Central University softball team secured a pair of one-run victories over host University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday to move over .500 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play.
 
The Eagles rallied in both games of the doubleheader, completing a 5-4 triumph in the opener in eight innings while edging the Hawks by a 4-3 margin in the nightcap.
 
NC Central (12-29 Overall, 8-6 MEAC) and UMES (8-27, 3-11) will conclude the three-game MEAC series on Sunday at noon.
 
GAME ONE: NC Central 5, UMES 4 (8 Innings)
 
Senior Ivory Jones entered the game in the sixth inning and drove in NCCU's final three runs to rally the maroon and gray to the victory. Jones tied the game with a two-run double to center field in the sixth inning before knocking in what proved to be the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth inning.
 
Junior pitcher Jaden Davis kept UMES off the board for the final three innings to register another complete-game victory. Davis (7-14) had three strikeouts over her eight innings of work as she improved to 6-3 in league play.
 
Freshman Tyler Suttles set the tone of the game for NCCU by leading off the game with a triple to center field and scoring immediately on an ensuing bunt single by junior Jai'lyn Edwards. Suttles then drove in two runs with a single in her next at bat in the second inning.
 
After being held scoreless for the first three innings by Davis, UMES was able level the score, 3-3, as four consecutive Hawks reached base in the fourth inning. The two-out rally started with a walk and was followed by two singles and a game-tying double.
 
UMES took a 5-3 lead on a two-run single by senior Ameenah Ballenger in the fifth inning before the Eagles made their late rally.
 
Suttles finished with three hits and one walk, two RBI, two runs and two stolen bases. Jones finished with a game-high three RBI and senior Imara Harrell scored twice.
 
GAME TWO: NC Central 4, UMES 3
 
Harrell, who scored for a third time on the day in the first inning, drove in NCCU's go-ahead run with a bunt single in the sixth inning as the Eagles completed the sweep of the league twin bill.
 
Freshman Kendall Smith led NCCU with three hits while Harrell and freshman Cameron Frye each added two hits. Frye crossed home plate with the game-winning run on Harrell's bunt single.
 
UMES held early leads of 2-1 and 3-2 before the Eagles once again fought back with freshman pitcher Xenna Tompkins holding the Hawks scoreless over the final four innings. Tompkins (2-5) notched her first conference complete-game victory of the season, wiggling out of danger several times as UMES left 11 runners on base.
 
Senior Hailey Batista chipped in an RBI and a run for the victors. Jones was hit by a pitch twice and also scored in the third inning.
 
Ballenger once again was a key contributor to the UMES lineup with three singles and scoring twice.
 
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