After having its first two games of the season snowed out the Shaw softball team had some nice weather today as temperatures were in the 70's in March.  The Lady Bears came away with a split against North Carolina Central, wining the first game 9-1 in five innings, while dropping the second game 8-6 at Sanderford Road Park.

In game one pitcher Shonda Welch was the story, giving up only one run and one hit while striking out nine.  Tanesha Haynes and Felicia Sprattley both scored on Lady Eagle errors giving Shaw a 2-0 lead.  North Carolina Central closed it to within 2-1 on an RBI-double by Brandie Hynes which scored Lakeshia Sheppard.

But Shaw broke out with a three-run five-hit fourth inning, capped of by a Sprattley two-run single which gave Shaw a 5-1 lead.  Last year's CIAA Rookie of the Year finished 2-for-3 with 2 RBI.  Welch then proceeded to strikeout the side in the top half of the fifth.  Shaw had a chance to end the game in the bottom half of the inning by way of the eight-run mercy rule and proceeded to do so as Dishondra Goree hit a two-run homer and, fittingly, Welch, last year's CIAA Player of the Year, hit a two-run double, ending the game.

In game two, the Lady Eagles took a first inning 2-0 lead, but Shaw would tie the game in the bottom half of the inning on a two-run single by Andrea Blake.  The Lady Eagles would then break the game open with a five-run third capped of by a Latisha Judd two-run single giving the Lady Eagles a 7-2 lead.