NCCU Softball Records Momentous Season in 2018

By KYLE SERBA

NCCU SID

DURHAM, N.C. — Second-year head coach Vashion Johnson guided the 2018 North Carolina Central University softball program through a historic season that featured numerous team and individual accomplishments, which was capped by a run in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Softball Championship.

The Lady Eagles won nine of their last 11 games to wrap up NCCU’s best season since joining the NCAA Division I ranks (started the transition in 2007-08). The team accomplishments were complemented by a variety of individual achievements. Below is a recap of some major highlights from the 2018 NCCU softball season.

2018 NCCU Softball Team Accomplishments

-Recorded first 20-win season at the DI level

-Posted first winning league record in the MEAC Southern Division (8-7)

-Tallied 15-12 record against MEAC member institutions

-Finished program-best third place at MEAC Championship (3-2) with wins over Delaware State, Savannah State and Hampton

-No-hitter vs. South Carolina State (April 21)

-Swept three-game series from South Carolina State and archrival North Carolina A&T

-TEAM OFFENSE: .241 batting average, 19 homeruns, 119 RBI, 145 runs, 44 stolen bases (all second best numbers since joining the MEAC in 2011-12)

-TEAM PITCHING: 3.15 earned run average, 20 wins, 10 shutouts, 335 strikeouts, .254 batting average against (all program best numbers since joining the MEAC in 2011-12)

2018 NCCU Softball Individual Accomplishments

-First Team All-MEAC honorees in pitcher Courtney Mirabella and third baseman Ava Dolan (they are the first two First Team award winners since joining the league)

-NCCU Female Athlete of the Year (Mirabella)

-Five MEAC Pitcher of the Week awards (Mirabella)

-One MEAC Player of the Week award (Dolan)

-MEAC All-Tournament Team (Mirabella)

-306 Strikeouts by Mirabella (program record)

-18 wins, 10 shutouts, 1.66 ERA, .194 opponent’s average against are all new DI era program records by Mirabella

-37 RBI and nine home runs are both new DI era program records by Dolan

-20 strikeout game vs. Maryland Eastern Shore by Mirabella is one strikeout shy of the NCAA record for a regulation seven-inning game.

-No-hitter by Mirabella vs. South Carolina State

-Mirabella signs pro contract to play in Italy