North Carolina Central University

SOFTBALL

     PETERSBURG, VA -- North Carolina Central University rallied to defeat Virginia State, then cruised to victory over Shaw to advance to Saturday's semifinal game of the 2005 CIAA Softball Championship held at the Petersburg (VA) Sports Complex.
     In the first game against Virginia State, NCCU scored twice in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the score at 4-4, when Shenika Worthy scored on a passed ball and Latoya Jones came home on a double steal. In the bottom of the seventh, Lady Eagle junior Jameka Little scored the game-winner after the catcher's throw to try and get Little stealing second base sailed into the outfield and passed the center fielder. Worthy went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a run batted in, while NCCU pitcher Clarisse Steans, the 2005 CIAA Player of the Year, collected six strikeouts with no walks to earn the 5-4 victory.
     In game two against Shaw, All-CIAA sophomore shortstop Asha Sutton hit 3-for-4 with two home runs to spark the Lady Eagles to a 7-2 win, while Natasha Bailey contributed a two-run double in the fourth inning to provide NCCU with some cushion. Steans fanned five with no walks and scattered four hits in the win.
     NCCU (26-17) will play Fayetteville State in Saturday's semifinal game at 10 a.m. The winner will play Elizabeth City State for the CIAA Championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA regional playoffs.
     NCCU's 26 wins in 2005 is a new school record, surpassing the 24 victories collected by the 1997 Lady Eagles coached by Ingrid Wicker-McCree.