DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – North Carolina Central scored two runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back on Saturday afternoon as the Eagles held on for a 6-4 decision over Bethune-Cookman in the first game of a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) softball doubleheader at Sunnyland Park. The second game of the doubleheader was halted in the top of the sixth inning due to weather with BCU holding onto an 8-2 lead.
 
The conclusion of the second game will take place Sunday at noon, followed the third and final game of the series between the two schools.
 
North Carolina Central (9-18, 2-5 MEAC) used an Aleyah Evans single to score two in order for the visiting Eagles to grab the lead in the top of the first inning.
 
Bethune-Cookman (19-23, 4-3 MEAC), entering the weekend having never lost to N.C. Central at home, battled to peg back a run in the bottom of the second.
 
A bases loaded groundout from shortstop Jacki Smith was enough to score Taylor Sherritt and bring BCU to within 2-1.
 
However, NCCU would add a run in each of the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, including a solo home run from third baseman Ava Dolan in the fifth to extend the Eagles lead, 4-1.
 
BCU would trim the lead by one in the fifth when Iesha Waters' sacrifice fly to center drove in Jacki Smith from third, trimming the Wildcats deficit at 4-2.
 
The game would become 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth as Cheyenne Smith's two-out triple to right field scored Sherritt.
 
The game entered a 1-hour, 53-minute weather delay in the top of the seventh.
 
When play resumed, the Eagles used a two-run homer from Dolan – her second of the game, to make it 6-3.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, sophomore centerfielder Ryan Jackson collected her MEAC-leading 15th home run of the season, placing her in sole possession of fourth place nationally in that department, with a solo shot to right center, producing the final 6-4 score line.
 
N.C. Central starter Courtney Mirabella (8-11), a senior transfer from N.C. State, picked up the win in a complete game, as she allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits, five walks and she fanned eight. The loss went to BCU freshman Alexis Bermudez (6-9) as she went four innings in the circle for the Wildcats, giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits, two walks and picking up one strikeout.
 
Bethune-Cookman was led at the dish by Jackson's 2-for-4 effort, adding the run and RBI on the solo homer in the seventh. Sherritt scored two runs on one hit as well.
 
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