BALTIMORE, Md. –North Carolina Central University scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to pull within one run, but the potential game-tying run was thrown out at home plate and host Morgan State University was able to hang on for a 4-3 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory on Sunday.
Sophomore
Makiya Graves and freshman
Tyler Suttles each provided NCCU with three hits and the Eagles outhit the Bears by 10 (13-3), but left nine runners on base in the one-run loss.
Morgan State, the preseason favorites to win the MEAC, won the series and improved to 21-14 on the season and 10-2 in the league. NC Central finished the weekend at 10-29 overall and 6-6 in conference clashes.
Trailing by four runs, sophomore
Takia Nichols started NCCU's rally with a double to center field to begin the sixth inning. After Graves drew a walk, junior pinch runner
Kia Borum scored the first maroon and gray run on a single by senior
Ivory Jones. Freshman
Kendall Smith added an RBI single and Suttles capped the frame with her own run-producing single, her third consecutive hit, but Smith was thrown out trying to score on the play to end the rally.
Amber Rivas highlighted play for Morgan State, scoring twice with one hit and two walks. She started the bottom of the first with a triple and scored MSU's opening run on a sac fly. Rivas also scored in a three-run fifth inning for the Bears. Vic Fletcher drove in Rivas both times and she recorded the save after re-entering the pitcher's circle in the top of the seventh and striking out the side and preserving the host's edge.
Eight different Eagles had hits with senior
Jaylah Barr adding a pair of base knocks.
Junior
Jaden Davis was attempting to earn her second win of the weekend in her complete-game effort, but two unearned runs cost her the opportunity. Davis had five strikeouts.
NC Central will next play a three-game MEAC road series at University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday-Sunday, April 13-14.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.