North Carolina Central University

SOFTBALL

      DURHAM, NC -- Needing to close out the regular season with two wins to repeat as CIAA Western Division Champions, North Carolina Central University swept Johnson C. Smith University 7-5, 12-4 at Hillside High School in Durham, N.C. on Friday.
     En route to their second straight divisional crown, the Lady Eagles reached the 30-win milestone for the first time in school history, finishing the regular season with a record of 31-14 overall and 21-1 in the CIAA.
     NCCU junior pitcher Clarisse Steans won both games, allowing just two earned runs and striking out 10 batters in 13 innings or work.
     In game one, NCCU rookie Casey Rodriquez broke open a 2-2 tie in the fourth inning with a three-run home run over the left-centerfield fence. The Lady Eagles plated two unearned runs in the fifth to make the difference in a 7-5 victory.
     In game two, NCCU scored 10 unanswered runs in the first three innings to dash the hopes of the Lady Golden Bulls, who suffered a 12-4 loss. All four JCSU runs scored on two throwing errors by the Lady Eagles.
     NCCU rookie Sophia Blue and junior Asha Sutton had three hits each in the second contest, while senior Jameka Little drove in four runs, including a two-out RBI in the sixth inning to end the game.
     Senior Brandi Young topped JCSU (29-13, 17-5 CIAA) by hitting 4-for-7 with three runs scored on the afternoon.