NCCU and FAMU Split Doublheader

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – For first time since April 10, the North Carolina Central University baseball program recorded double-figure hits in a contest scoring at least one run in nearly every inning to earn the 8-3 victory getting the split in Saturday’s doubleheader against Florida A&M after dropping game one 6-3 at Moore-Kittles Field in Tallahassee, Fla.

With the victory in the second contest, it not only sets up a crucial rubber match for Sunday afternoon at 12:00 p.m., but the Eagles clinched a berth into the 2013 MEAC Baseball Championships held May 14-19 at Marty Miller Field in Norfolk, Va.

Game two began with senior Akeem Hood (Raleigh, N.C.) drilling a double down the left field line in the top of the first inning which allowed the Eagles to bring him around on an RBI groundout to second base by senior Luis Diaz (Geneva, N.Y.) to give the maroon and gray their first lead of the day at 1-0. 

NCCU added two runs in the fifth and a run in the sixth to earn the twinbill split winning game two by the score of 8-3.

Frye (5-3) looked stellar in earning the win throwing his fourth complete game of the year, scattering seven hits and recording five strikeouts to give him 202 in his career.

The first game of the day saw a solid pitching performance from Florida A&M starter David Duncan, while the Eagle defense committed four errors in the 6-3 loss.

Duncan (2-7) earned the win going 8.0 innings strong with seven strikeouts, while senior Michael Romano (Spotsylvania, Va.) put together yet another gutsy outing allowing only two earned runs with four strikeouts despite the four errors by the defense behind him.

Leading the offense on the day, Simpson finished game two 3-for-5 at-the-plate with two runs scored and two RBI, while Diaz was 3-for-7 with two runs scored, a double, and three RBI.  Hood ended the day with two doubles, while five batters were plunked by Rattler pitchers on the afternoon.

For the complete story visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.famuathletics.com

Coppin State Splits With Maryland Eastern Shore

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. -- David Hamlett went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs leading Coppin State to a 5-4 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore and a split of a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday at Hawk Stadium.

Hamlett had an RBI single in the first inning and a key sacrifice fly in the sixth inning as Coppin State snapped a four-game losing streak with the victory.

Jack Kraft went 2-for-4 and scored a run and Dalton Cozart, Jay Maletz and Colin Dower each picked up a base hit for the Eagles.

Anderson Burgess picked up the victory for the Eagles on the mound and improved to 2-3 on the season. Burgess went 5.2 innings, allowed three earned runs and struck out three.

Closer Michael Roberts worked the final 1.1 innings and allowed just one hit to earn his fifth save of the season.

Coppin State extended the lead to 5-3 in the top of the sixth inning when Hamlett hit a sacrifice fly that scored Dower.

UMES won the first game 3-2 as it scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie.

Coppin State improved to 13-28 overall and 8-12 in the MEAC, while UMES dropped to 8-37 overall and 4-16 in conference play.

For the complete story visit www.coppinstatesports.com or www.umeshawks.com