NORFOLK, Va. – Junior pitcher Jaden Davis tossed a one-hit shutout to lead the fourth-seeded North Carolina Central University softball team to a 1-0 win over fifth-seeded South Carolina State University in the first game of the 2024 MEAC Softball Championship hosted by Norfolk State on Wednesday morning.
 
The defending champions have won their opening game of the MEAC Softball Championship for a third consecutive season under the leadership of head coach Cat Tarvin. NC Central (19-34 Overall) will next play top-seeded Morgan State University in the quarterfinals of the double-elimination tournament on Wednesday at 3 p.m. South Carolina State (11-29) will next have to play an elimination game on Thursday versus an opponent yet to be determined.
 
Freshman Samaria Jackson drew a critical bases-loaded walk with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning to knock in sophomore Makiya Graves for the lone run.
 
Freshman Kendall Smith had a big game just ahead of Jackson in the maroon and gray lineup, accounting for three of NCCU's six hits.
 
Davis, a two-time MEAC All-Tournament Team selection, once again provided NCCU with a dominating performance from the pitcher's circle. Davis (11-17) limited the SCSU to just one hit in her fourth shutout of the season while striking out eight Bulldogs.
 
A single to center by SCSU's Cameron Hall with two outs in the top of the second inning ended any thoughts of a no hitter in the early stages of the contest. DeAsia Lowther tried to match Davis, but was tagged with the loss despite the only run being unearned.
 
NCCU boasts an 8-5 record in the MEAC Softball Championship over the past four seasons (2021-present) under Tarvin, but the Eagles are still looking for their first win against the Bears (0-3).
 
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