LADY EAGLES SOAR TO LUBBOCK FOR TEXAS TECH TOURNAMENT Reah P. Nicholson 03/10/10 NCCU to face two first-time opponents at three-day event DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University softball team (4-9) will make its longest trip of the season this weekend when they head to Lubbock, Texas to compete in the Texas Tech Tournament, which will be held March 12-14 at the Rocky Johnson Field on the campus of Texas Tech University. This weekend will mark the Lady Eagles’ first trip to Lubbock and their first battle with the Red Raiders. They will face another first-time opponent in Jackson State University, who will join NCCU and Texas Tech in the tournament. NCCU will play five games over the course of three days. NCCU will kick-off the tournament on Friday, March 12 at 2 p.m. CST, where they will take on Jackson State. Before facing tournament-host Texas Tech, the Red Raiders will battle Jackson State at 4 p.m. CST, while the Lady Eagles and the Red Raiders will conclude day one of the tournament at 6 p.m. CST. On Saturday, NCCU will start the day off once again with Jackson State. The Lady Eagles and the Lady Tigers will face-off at 11 a.m. CST, followed by NCCU taking on Texas Tech at 1 p.m. CST. Day two will conclude with a matchup between Jackson State and Texas Tech at 3 p.m. CST. The tournament will conclude on Sunday with just two games. NCCU will start the day off with Texas Tech at 10 a.m. CDT, while Jackson State and Texas Tech will close the tournament out at noon CDT. Texas Tech is scheduled to play six games, while NCCU and Jackson State will each play five over the course of the weekend. NCCU brings a 4-9 record into the Texas Tech Tournament coming off of back-to-back wins to Saint Paul’s College on Tuesday. The Lady Eagles have seven student-athletes hitting above .300, including three that are above .400. One NCCU student-athlete is hitting .500 on the season. The Lady Eagles are led by freshmen Kayla McPeek and Nadia Jefferies. McPeek has a .500 average with four hits on eight at-bats and three RBIs going into the weekend. Jefferies has been an instant impact in the lineup for the Lady Eagles this season with a .485 average with 16 hits on 33 at-bats with two doubles and one RBI. Senior Desanbra Franklin is one of the most consistent in the batter’s box for the Lady Eagles as she is hitting .429 on the season with 18 hits on 42 at-bats. She has notched two homeruns, five doubles and 10 RBIs. Franklin is one of two Lady Eagles to start in all 13 games this season. In the circle, NCCU is led by McPeek (2-2), the only Lady Eagle pitcher to notch two wins this season. She comes into the tournament with a 2-2 record after allowing 36 runs on 49 hits in 26.2 innings of work, while notching a 7.35 ERA. Michelle Ishida (0-3) sits with the lowest ERA in the stable with a 6.46, while allowing 16 runs on 17 hits in 13.0 innings pitched, but hasn’t seen as much action as the other NCCU pitchers. Jackson State comes into the weekend with a 3-10 record. The Lady Tigers are led by Wendi Reed’s .317 batting average, the only Jackson State student-athlete above .300 on the season. Reed has started in all 13 games for the Lady Tigers, while earning 13 hits on 41 at-bats with one double, one triple, one homerun and 10 RBIs. Leading in the circle for Jackson State is Tynett Sims (1-5) with a 2.80 ERA. She is 1-5 on the season after allowing 29 runs on 31 hits with 14 strikeouts in 35.1 innings of work. She has made seven appearances this season. Texas Tech comes into the tournament with an impressive 19-2 record. Their two losses came against Auburn and Wichita State. The Red Raiders are currently on a two-game winning streak after having a 15-game winning streak snapped by Wichita State on March 6. The Red Raiders have six student-athletes hitting above .300 with one hitting above .400. As a team, they are hitting .331 on the season. The Red Raiders are led by Emily Bledsoe with a .424 average with two doubles, one triple and six homeruns on the season. She has notched 28 hits on 66 at-bats with 25 RBIs. Texas Tech is strong in the pitcher’s circle with two Red Raiders standing undefeated. Ashly Jacobs (6-0) leads the Texas Tech pitching game, allowing just 13 runs on 36 hits in 49.2 innings pitched. She has notched 49 strikeouts in 11 appearances this season. Following their trip to Lubbock, the Lady Eagles will return to the diamond to host two doubleheader games at the Thomas Brooks Athletic Complex in Cary, N.C. Maryland Eastern Shore will visit on March 17 for a two-game series, while Campbell will visit on March 20 for a two-game series. Tournament Schedule Friday, March 12, 2010 North Carolina Central vs. Jackson State – 2 p.m. Jackson State vs. Texas Tech – 4 p.m. North Carolina Central vs. Texas Tech – 6 p.m. Saturday, March 13, 2010 Jackson State vs. North Carolina Central – 11 a.m. North Carolina Central vs. Texas Tech – 1 p.m. Jackson State vs. Texas Tech – 3 p.m. Sunday, March 14, 2010 North Carolina Central vs. Texas Tech – 10 a.m. Jackson State vs. Texas Tech – 12 p.m. All times are Central All games are played at the Rocky Johnson Field