DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central closes out its home schedule this weekend in a three-game series against Maryland Eastern Shore at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, N.C.

The series opening doubleheader starts at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, and the final home game is Sunday at 12 p.m. on Senior Day. 

Sunday will be the last home appearances for catcher Sydney Jones, third baseman/catcher Nyla Rodgers, outfielder Kia Borum, pitcher Jaden Davis and first baseman Takia Nichols. A senior day pregame ceremony will take place Sunday.

The Eagles (8-28, 5-7 MEAC) are looking to end the home schedule on a high note against UMES (3-28, 2-10 MEAC), which is last in the conference. The Hawks are not an easy out, however.

UMES defeated Norfolk State 8-5 last Sunday after losing both games of a Saturday doubleheader. The Hawks led the first game 3-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning before falling 4-3 to Norfolk State, which is third in the MEAC standings.

NCCU defeated Morgan State 3-2 last Sunday behind another strong pitching performance from Davis, who posted a 0.0 earned run average in two games last weekend. She totaled 12 strikeouts and two walks in 14 innings.

The Eagles are tough when Davis is on the mound. She is 5-3 in conference games with a 1.47 ERA. NCCU has beaten each MEAC team at least once in every series so far except first-place Howard. The Eagles were 2-1 against Norfolk State and Coppin State and topped Morgan State after dropping both games of a doubleheader. They have yet to play UMES, Delaware State and South Carolina State.

Davis leads the MEAC in strikeouts (87) and has the most overall pitching wins (8) in the conference. She will face a UMES team that is last in the MEAC in batting average (.203).

UMES is also at the bottom of the conference in team ERA (8.97). The Eagles, led by Makiya Graves, Tyler Suttles and Takia Nichols, bat .256 as a team. Graves is second in the MEAC in batting average (.352) and tied for second in RBIs (18).

Suttles ranks fourth in the conference in batting (.349) and Nichols is tied for fifth in RBIs (16). Samaria Jackson is tied for second in the MEAC in home runs (3) and Daiyah Bailey is second in runs scored (19).

For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.