RALEIGH, N.C. – Hannah Stutts (Sr./Statesville, NC) celebrated Senior Day with a no-hitter as Saint Augustine’s University blanked crosstown rival Shaw University 5-0 in Game 1 of a CIAA softball doubleheader at Worthdale Park on Saturday, April 18, 2015. Meranda Zanni (So./Phoenix, OR) hurled her third straight shutout for the Lady Falcons in a 6-0 win in Game 2.
With the victories, the Lady Falcons (16-10 overall) remained atop the CIAA Southern Division standings at 6-0. The Lady Bears (6-24 overall) fell to 2-4 in the division.
Stutts was two hit batsmen away from pitching a perfect game. She struck out five batters with no walks in seven complete innings to raise her pitching record to 5-4.
The Lady Falcons scored their runs in the middle innings. They took a 2-0 lead in the third inning when Zanni scored Taylor Walters (Sr./Douglasville, GA) and Danyelle Noland (Fr./Nashville, NC) on a two-run single. Another run was added in the fourth inning when Marley Parker (Fr./Langley, British Columbia) scored Jo’Landa White (Sr./Leland, NC) on a sacrifice fly. The final two runs were scored in the fifth inning when Noland scored Walters on a triple, and Korey Hill (So./Virginia Beach, VA) scored Noland on a groundout.
Zanni went 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBIs for the Lady Falcons, who had six hits. Noland and Walters both scored twice.
After a brilliant outing on the mound, Stutts, a senior, was honored along with seniors Jo’Landa White and Walters between games. The trio has played key roles during a successful run for the Lady Falcons which includes a CIAA title game appearance in 2014.
Once the ceremony ended, the Lady Falcons wasted no time scoring in the second contest. They led 2-0 in the first inning when Daja White (Jr./Leland, NC) scored Hill and Jo’Landa White on a two-run triple. Zanni scored Noland on a single for a 3-0 lead in the second inning.
The Lady Falcons scored three runs in the third inning for the final score. Parker scored on an error, and Walters scored when Porscha Walton (Fr./Chesterfield, VA) stole second base. Noland scored Walton on a double.
Zanni fired a three-hitter in seven complete innings to improve to 6-1 as a pitcher. She had four strikeouts and one walk.
Noland went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and one run scored for the Lady Falcons, who had 10 hits. Hill went 2-for-2 with one run scored and Walters went 2-for-3 with one run scored.
The Lady Falcons will visit UNC Pembroke in a doubleheader at Pembroke, N.C., on Tuesday, April 21. Game times are 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
— Sports Information Office
