NORFOLK, Va. – The Eagles jumped out to a 3-nil lead, but top-seeded Morgan State University rallied to defeat fourth-seeded North Carolina Central University, 5-3, in an elimination game of the 2024 MEAC Softball Championship on Friday afternoon.
 
Morgan State (33-18) advances to the championship game on Saturday against Coppin State University. NC Central (20-36) ends its season with a third-place finish in the postseason tournament.
 
The Eagles quickly plated their three early runs within the first six batters of the contest. Sophomore Makiya Graves knocked in the opening run with a double and she scored on an ensuing single by senior Jaylah Barr. Senior Hailey Batista then plated Barr two batters later with an RBI groundout.
 
Graves and Barr each finished with two hits.
 
The regular season champions scored two runs in the second inning to start their rally and the Bears completed the comeback with three runs in the bottom of the third inning.
 
MSU outhit the Eagles, 9-7, with Amber Rivas, Victoria Fletcher and Mia Ewell all supplying two base hits.
 
After NCCU scored three quick runs on the starter, relievers Melissa Paz and Emily Raubuch held the Eagles scoreless over the final 6 2/3 innings.
 
Paz had the biggest hit of the day with a two-run single that knocked in the game-tying and go-ahead runs.
 
Junior Ashanti Eubanks suffered the loss for the maroon and gray.
 
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