DURHAM, N.C. – After a momentum-building series against Norfolk State last weekend, North Carolina Central aims to continue its recent success in a MEAC three-game softball series against Coppin State, starting Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in Baltimore, Md.

After Saturday's doubleheader, a single game is set for Sunday at noon. The series site is the Coppin State Softball Complex.

The Eagles (5-25, 2-4 MEAC) visit Coppin State after winning two of three against Norfolk State in Cary, N.C. Several players sparkled for the Eagles, including MEAC Player of the Week Makiya Graves.

The NCCU junior batted .455 (5 of 11) with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored. Earlier last week, she drove in a career-high five runs on a home run and a double against East Carolina.

Graves is in the MEAC's top 5 in six categories including batting average (4^th/.357), slugging percentage (4^th/.472), hits (T-2^nd/25), RBIs (T-4^th/14), at-bats (5^th/72) and sacrifice flies (T-1^st/2). She is seventh in the conference in on base and slugging percentage (.867).

Pitching ace Jaden Davis stymied Norfolk State in both NCCU victories. In 14 innings, she totaled 14 strikeouts to one walk and limited the Spartans to three runs in 6-2 and 2-1 wins. Takia Nichols batted .600 (6 of 10) with two doubles and two RBIs and Nyla Rodgers, who leads the conference in walks (13), drew a full count bases-loaded walk in the sixth inning that led to the one-run victory over Norfolk State this past Sunday.

Davis ranks third in the MEAC in strikeouts (62) and is the league leader in innings pitched (89). Daiyah Bailey ranks third (15) in runs scored and Nichols is tied with Graves for fourth in RBIs (14). Tyler Suttles is the co-leader in triples (3) and Samaria Jackson is tied for the most home runs (3).

Coppin State (2-14, 2-4 MEAC) is led by Julianna Mejia, who ranks second in the MEAC in batting average (.400), slugging percentage (.514) and on base and slugging percentage (1.014). Mejia leads the MEAC in on base percentage (.500).

Tatjana Harris (4.94) and Davis of NCCU (5.19) are ninth and 10^th, respectively, in earned run average. The Eagles have a .251 batting average compared to .234 for Coppin State.

In its previous MEAC series, Coppin State was swept by Delaware State on the road last weekend. The scores were 6-3, 2-0 and 8-0.

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