NCCU BASEBALL SWEEPS FAMU TO EXTEND SIX-GAME WIN STREAK
DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central extended its win streak to six games with a MEAC baseball doubleheader sweep of Florida A&M (5-4, 3-2) on Friday at the Durham Athletic Park.
Both contests were narrow one-run victories for the Eagles, who improve to 15-9 overall and 7-4 in conference play with their eighth consecutive win in the series with FAMU.
In game one, the Rattlers erased NCCU’s 1-0 advantage by exploding for four runs on five hits in the top of the sixth inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Eagles took advantage of two FAMU errors, a single by Luis Diaz and Troy Marrow’s 16th hit-by-pitch of the season (most in NCAA Division I) to plate two unearned runs, trimming the deficit to 4-3. A leaping catch by FAMU shortstop Kendal Weeks ended the frame and prevented Alex Moore’s line drive from scoring the game-tying run.
Still trailing 4-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth, NCCU junior catcher Carter Williamson made the most of his birthday by doubling down the right field line to drive in Diaz, who opened the inning with an infield single, to even the score at 4-4. After a FAMU pitching change and replacing Williamson with pinch runner Kory Wood, junior second baseman Spencer Franceschetti’s fourth double of the season drove home Wood for the eventual game-winning run.
NCCU senior lefty Gavin Guarrera replaced starting pitcher Michael Romano to open the ninth inning, and he retired the side for his fifth save of the season. Romano scattered eight hits with two strikeouts in eight innings on the mound to earn the win.
Diaz went 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored in the opener, while Williamson also tallied three hits for the Eagles.
In game two, NCCU broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning with a bases-loaded, two-run single by junior shortstop Zach Lee to put the Eagles on top 3-1.
FAMU threatened in the seventh and final inning as Scot Sheplak singled home pinch runner Pete Jackson after Ryan Debi ripped a leadoff double down the left field line, to pull the Rattlers to within one run. Sheplak later advanced to third base with two outs, representing the game-tying run.
That’s when NCCU head coach Jim Koerner looked to the bullpen for Guarrera, who closed the door on the Rattlers’ hopes of a comeback and chalked up save number six.
NCCU starting pitcher Glenn Frye earned his third win of his senior campaign by allowing just two runs in eight-and-two-thirds innings with four strikeouts and no walks.
For the complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.famuathletics.com
Bethune-Cookman Drops Series-Opening Twinbill at Kansas State
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Bethune-Cookman’s (12-13) offense was as cold as the Midwestern weather, as the Wildcats were swept by Kansas State (15-8) to open the series, Friday at Tointon Family Stadium. B-CU was shutout through the first 17 innings of play, dropping games of 12-0 and 9-2.
The day began with snow on the ground, but temperatures rose throughout the day. Though Bethune-Cookman matched Kansas State’s effort at the plate early into the series-opening game, the Wildcats hitting never warmed up, and they were held without a hit beyond the second frame.
Meanwhile, K-State jumped out to an early lead, capitalizing on the leadoff hitter reaching as a hit batter, sending him home on a sacrifice fly to center field, with additional runs coming from a second sac fly and an RBI to outer left field, pushing KSU ahead 3-0 after the third.
KSU added runs in three consecutive frames to blow the game open with a nine-run scoring effort from the fifth through the seventh, taking a commanding 12-0 lead on the visiting Wildcats, a margin which would hold through the final out.
The bats remained cold for B-CU as the second game opened, while K-State logged a first inning lead on a two-run single up the middle.
The Wildcats settled in defensively and held KSU without an additional score through the fourth, despite four runners on base. However, KSU got rolling again late in the game, scoring in four consecutive innings to build a 9-0 lead.
B-CU finally entered the scorebook in the top of the ninth, capitalizing on the offensive effort of three underclass pinch hitters. Consecutive career-first singles for Michael Austin and Jordan Thomas granted B-CU a run in scoring position, and sophomore Jake Welch sealed the deal with an RBI groundout. Brandon Turner added to the effort with an RBI single to left field, narrowing the final score to 9-2.
Both B-CU Starters, Montana Durapau (3-2) and Ali Simpson (1-4) took losses on the day.
It was a tough day on both sides of the field, as the Wildcats surrendered 30 hits, while tallying just six of their own.
For the complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com