CARY, N.C. (April 5, 2025)--Morgan State returned to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play on Saturday and earned a doubleheader sweep of host North Carolina Central 2-0 and 15-2 in six innings at Thomas Brooks Park.
 
With the doubleheader sweep, Morgan State has now won 13 of the past 14 meetings against the Eagles. It is also Morgan's third straight MEAC series win, since dropping two of three games to Delaware State to begin conference play.
 
How It Happened
Game 1
The Lady Bears (13-18, 9-2 MEAC) and NCCU (7-28, 4-7 MEAC) played four scoreless innings until Morgan State struck in the fifth inning with two runs, which would be the difference.
 
Olivia Garner reached base on an error on the Eagles at third base, allowing Cassie White and Nia Lewis to score and give the guests a 2-0 lead.
 
NCCU's Jaden Davis had a no-hitter going through 3 2/3 innings until Olivia Pagano singled down the left field line with two outs in the fourth.
 
Davis, who fell to 7-11 in the circle, pitched all seven innings and was charged for two hits, two runs and a walk, while striking out a game-high eight batters.
 
Victoria Fletcher picked up the win for the Lady Bears to improve to 7-9 on the season. Fletcher tossed a complete game shutout, allowing three runs and a walk and struck out four batters.
 
Alison Keener accounted for Morgan's second hit of the game.
 
Game 2
Morgan State fell behind 1-0 at the end of the first inning, before scoring 15 runs over the next five innings, including a six-run outburst in the sixth inning to earn a 15-2 victory in six innings.
 
The Lady Bears recorded 10 hits in the game, while starting pitcher Sarah Rodriguez got the win to improve to 7-9. Rodriguez allowed two runs on three hits and recorded a game-high four strikeouts in five innings of work.
 
Victoria Recendez wrapped up the game, tossing two strikeouts and holding the Eagles without a hit in the sixth inning.
 
Nia Lewis went 2-for-3 with two runs and a game-high 3 RBI to lead Morgan. Olivia Garner finished 2-for-5 with 2 RBI. Morgan Harrell Alvarez recorded a hit, had 2 RBI and scored twice and Denver Obermeyer also had a hit, 2 RBI and scored a run.
 
Millie Cousins finished 1-for-1 with a RBI and scored a game-high four runs. Gianna Ettore and Rylee Hyde each scored two runs for the Lady Bears.
 
Morgan State looked to end the game in the fifth inning, by way of the eight-run rule, when the Lady Bears scored three runs in the inning to take a 9-1 lead.
 
Alvarez, who singled to right field to score Cousins for the first run of the inning, later scored on a single hit to shortstop by Nia Lewis to put the guests ahead 8-1. Lewis then scored on an error at first base to give Morgan the 9-1 advantage.
 
Down to its final out in the bottom of the inning, N.C. Central extended the game, when Makiya Graves singled to center field, scoring Tyler Suttles to cut the deficit to seven at 9-2.
 
Having to play an extra inning, the Lady Bears proceeded to score six runs in the top of the sixth to guarantee that would be the final inning of the day.
 
Morgan State drew three straight walks to begin the top of the sixth, but a wild pitch on the third walk, allowed Hyde to score the first run. Another wild pitch brought Ettore home, giving the Lady Bears an 11-2 lead.
 
Cousins scored the third run of the inning when Cassie White singled to center field. Two batters later Obermeyer doubled to left center to score White and Lewis. Garner rounded out the scoring when she doubled to left center to score Obermeyer for the 15th run of the game.
 
Next Up: Morgan State and NCCU will conclude the series on Sunday at 12 p.m.
 
 
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.