NCCU Squeaks Past Coppin State For Fourth Straight Win
DURHAM, N.C. – With Zack Lee on first base and North Carolina Central trailing Coppin State 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning, senior Luis Diaz ripped a line drive down the right field line leading to a standup triple which helped propel the host Eagles to the 2-1 win on Wednesday afternoon at the Durham Athletic Park.
NCCU earned its fourth straight win despite leaving 13 runners stranded in the contest, and it began in the bottom of the first when the maroon and gray loaded the bases with one out, when junior Tyson Simpson grounded into 1-2-3 inning ending double play.
In the second inning, the Eagles put runners on first and second with two outs and could not drive in a run as the game remained scoreless.
Through the first four frames, NCCU left nine runners stranded, but Coppin State scored the first run of the game in the top of the fourth on a passed ball that was set up by a Jack Kraft single.
CSU starter Yahya Muhammad kept the host Eagles’ bats quiet retiring the middle of the NCCU order in the fifth, and shutting down another bases loaded threat in the sixth to keep the visiting Eagles ahead.
After Diaz’s second triple of the season that tied the game at 1-1 in the seventh, junior Carter Williamson came on to pinch-hit and recorded RBI No. 14 on the year with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Diaz to put the maroon and gray ahead 2-1 after seven complete.
With the lead in-tow, junior righty Jacob Russell came on in-relief in the eighth inning and retired CSU in order, setting up senior closer Gavin Guarrera to take the hill in the ninth.
Guarrera struck out three of the four CSU batters in faced in earning his fourth save of the year, as Russell (1-1) earned his first victory of the season.
CSU (5-14, 2-1 MEAC) left 10 runners stranded themselves as the NCCU pitching staff combined to allow three hits in the win.
NCCU (13-9, 5-4 MEAC) managed just five hits in the win, but the defense continued to make plays including a 6-4-3 twin killing in the top of the seventh.
For the complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com or www.nccueaglepride.com
UNF propels past FAMU with a three-run sixth for a 5-2 win, Wednesday
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 20) -Florida A&M dropped a tough, 5-2 decision to the University of North Florida, Wednesday, afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field in a non-conference matchup.
FAMU tallied 11 hits in the contest, after starting the contest with two hits after four complete innings of play, with Reginald Grant finishing with a team high three hits, followed by both Bennie Robinson and Marlon Gibbs with two hits each.
UNF had three Ospreys to finish with three hits each in Paul Karmeris and Corey Bass as UNF tallied a game high 13 hits in the contest.
Christopher Priestley received the loss for the Rattlers as he got the start, allowing nine hits, four earned runs and striking out two in five and one-third innings of work, while Nick Allbritton picked up the win for the Ospreys as he gave up five hits, two earned runs and striking out three in five innings of work. Spencer Herrmann in relief picked up his first save of the season for the Ospreys.
UNF took the early 1-0 lead as they scored a run in the top of the third on a Corey Bass double to left center, scoring Herrmann.
The Ospreys picked up another run in the top of the fifth as Drew Weeks singled to center field scoring Joe Wielbruda, giving UNF a 2-0 lead after four and one-half complete innings of play.
FAMU tied the contest at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth as both Kendall Weeks and Garrett Johnson scoring in the inning with Weeks scoring wild pitch and Johnson scoring on a Grant single up the middle.
UNF would break the tie and get the win in the top of the sixth as both Kyle Brooks and Paul Karmeris scored on a Bass double and then Bass would score on a Wielbruda double down the left field line, for the 5-2 finale.
With the win UNF’s raises their record to 16-7 on the season, while FAMU lowers their record to 1-21 in the season.
For the complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com