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CARY, N.C. - North Carolina Central University started off its 2011 campaign with a 3-1 record for the first time since the 2003 season. NCCU split a pair of games during Sunday’s action of the 2011 Lady Eagles Softball Invitational at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, N.C., as the host team fell to Western Carolina University (2-11) and came away with its third victory against Morgan State University (2-1).

During day one of play, the Lady Eagles defeated St. Paul’s College 9-0, and took down the Lady Rams of Winston-Salem State 3-2.

After starting their season with two straight wins, the Lady Eagles could not prevail against the Lady Catamount of WCU, falling 11-2. Shamika Chavis-Hodge started the game for NCCU giving up six quick runs off of seven WCU hits in the top of the first. On the offensive end, the Lady Eagles struggled against Lady Catamount pitcher Amber Steinhardt, going scoreless in the bottom of the first.

In inning number two, the Lady Catamount earned one more run before Kayla McPeek entered the game to pitch for NCCU. WCU converted seven total hits into four runs against McPeek, giving them an 11-0 advantage going into the bottom of the fifth inning. In the fifth, the Lady Eagles gave one last effort as they scored two runs off of an RBI from Kristina Williams and a single to left field by senior Ashanti Stroud. Stroud led the game for NCCU with two hits, one RBI and three assists.

In game number two of the day, the Lady Eagles took on Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) competitor Morgan State University. After falling to the Lady Bears twice during the 2010 season, the Lady Eagles came out ready for revenge. McPeek started on the mound for the Lady Eagles giving up two quick base runners. Tamra Griffin singled to right field for MSU as they looked to score their lead-off runner, but NCCU catcher Andrea Searls made the play at the plate holding the Lady Bears scoreless in the first.

Searls came up to bat for NCCU with two outs on the board before hitting a hard base-hit grounder to third base. Freshmen Amanda Bullock singled to left field, scoring Searls, putting her Lady Eagles ahead, 1-0, in the bottom of the first inning.

Both teams remained scoreless for the next four innings until Stroud capitalized on a MSU error in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring to put the Lady Eagles up 2-0. In the top of the sixth, the Lady Bears Griffin answered with a double to center field. After advancing to third, Griffin’s pinch runner, Asia Mason, took advantage of an NCCU error to place MSU on the board, 2-1.

The Lady Eagles ended the game with a quick three up, three down in the top of seventh. NCCU came away victorious with a nail-biting final score of 2-1. Undefeated McPeek took home her third win of the weekend as the Lady Eagles started their 2011 season with three victories to only one setback. Junior Andrea Searls led the way for NCCU in game two going 3-for-3 at the plate, with one run and two defensive putouts.

The Lady Eagles look to carry on this momentum on Thursday, Feb. 17 when they return to Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, N.C., to take on fellow MEAC member Hampton University at 1 p.m.

For more information, log onto www.NCCUEaglePride.com.