NORFOLK, Va. – No. 5 seed North Carolina Central displayed grit for the second consecutive game but unfortunately fell short 7-5 to No. 2 seed Norfolk State in the MEAC Championship softball elimination bracket at NSU Softball Field on Thursday.
The game and the season ended for the Eagles (13-33 overall) on a groundout in the bottom of the seventh inning after
Makiya Graves hit a one-out double and reached third base on a groundout. On Wednesday, NCCU fell to Morgan State in a 4-3 nail-biter for its first loss in the double-elimination tournament.
The Eagles amassed 11 hits with
Samaria Jackson and
Nyla Rodgers leading the way. Jackson was 3 of 3 with two doubles and two runs scored and Rodgers batted 2 of 2 with a double and three RBIs. Graves finished 2 of 3 with a double and one run scored. Norfolk State (22-22 overall) totaled nine hits as the Spartans advanced in the elimination bracket.
Standout pitcher
Jaden Davis, who took the loss, concluded her career with the most wins (38) and second most strikeouts (393) in NCCU program history. The MEAC Pitcher of the Year was seven strikeouts away from tying the school career record.
Elana Krupey was stout in relief after entering the game in the third inning and the Eagles trailing 5-2. The NCCU freshman limited Norfolk State to two runs on three hits in the remaining five innings, but one hit - a two-run home run - extended the Spartans' lead from 5-4 to 7-4 in the top of the sixth inning.
Jackson opened the bottom of the sixth with a double and Rodgers singled one batter later to score pinch runner
Codi Mann. The score pulled the Eagles with 7-5 but that was as close as they would get.
Kia Borum, who pitch ran for Rodgers, reached second base on a passed ball with one out but the Eagles flied out twice to end the inning.
NCCU fell behind 3-0 in the top of the first inning but added a run in the bottom half.
Takia Nichols singled in Graves, who reached first base on a single. The Spartans added two runs in the top second for a 5-1 lead but the Eagles responded with a run in the bottom second. Rodgers scored Jackson on a double one batter after Jackson hit a bunt single to cut the score to 5-2.
The Eagles made the game interesting in the fourth inning when they scored two runs to slice their deficit to 5-4. Jackson started the inning with a double and advanced to third on Davis' bunt single. Davis stole second base to put runners on second and third, setting up Rodgers' sacrifice fly which scored Jackson. Davis scored on the next play when Krupey recorded an RBI groundout.
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