North Carolina Central University

SOFTBALL

     WINSTON-SALEM, NC -- North Carolina Central University swept a doubleheader from Winston-Salem State University (14-1, 11-0) on Saturday in Winston-Salem, NC, as the Lady Eagles clinched the CIAA Western Division regular-season title for the first time since 1998.
     Sophomore shortstop Asha Sutton got the afternoon going in the right direction for the visiting Lady Eagles with a lead-off home run in a six-run first inning, which also included a three-run blast by junior Natasha Bailey. Sutton's RBI single in the third inning, her 56th hit in 2005, broke a 10-year-old school record for hits in a season, previously set by Jura Gerald and Tia Watlington in 1995. NCCU sophomore hurler Clarisse Steans scattered four hits with three strikeouts to earn the 14-1 victory in the opener.
     In game two, Steans tossed a two-hit shutout as NCCU cruised to an 11-0 win to claim the divisional crown. Senior third baseman Shenika Worthy top the Lady Eagles offense by going 3-for-3 with a home run, a double and four runs batted in.
     NCCU improves to 21-16 overall, 19-1 in CIAA play, and 8-0 in the CIAA Western Division. WSSU falls to 11-20 overall and 11-10 in the CIAA.
     NCCU travels to Livingstone College on Sunday (April 17) for a 12 noon doubleheader to wrap-up the regular season. The 2005 CIAA Softball Championship starts on Thursday (April 21) in Petersburg, Virginia.