NCCU falls behind early in loss to East Carolina
GREENVILLE, N.C. – North Carolina Central University dropped a 12-5 decision on the road at East Carolina on Wednesday night at Clark-LeClair Stadium as the Pirates scored all 12 runs in the first three innings to roll to the victory.
NCCU’s Zack Lee led the ballgame off with a double to left field, later scoring on a RBI single by Tyson Simpson as the maroon and gray grabbed their first-ever lead in Greenville over the Pirates at 1-0 in the top of the first.
That advantage was short lived as a flare to centerfield narrowly slipped out of Kory Wood’s diving glove with two outs and runners in scoring position plating two ECU runs as the Pirates went on to score four runs in the bottom of the first to take a 4-1 lead.
Over the next two innings, ECU killed NCCU slowly with eight more runs, while the Eagles did plate single run in the top of the third, but found themselves trailing 12-2 after three complete.
The maroon and gray finally settled down the rest of the way as the Eagles held the Pirates scoreless from the third inning on.
NCCU kept fighting by plating a run in the sixth inning, and two more in the eighth inning to put the game at its final resting place at 12-5.
First baseman Christian Triplett and Lee both recorded multiple hit outings as Lee extended his hitting streak to 15 games. Greenville, N.C. native Bryant Battle joined Triplett and Lee as the trio all recorded at least one extra base hit in the loss, while ECU recorded none.
ECU (14-11, 6-3 Conference USA) first baseman Bryce Harman finished the night 3-for-4 with five RBI and a run scored while centerfielder Ben Fultz talled a 3-for-5 effort at-the-dish with three RBI and three runs scored in the victory.
NCCU (9-14-1, 6-5 MEAC) hits the road for a weekend MEAC/SWAC showdown against Alabama State University at Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex in Montgomery, Ala. Game one of the three-game nonconference series begins on Friday, March 29 at 6:00 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com
Central Florida Holds Bethune-Cookman in 4-1 Loss
ORLANDO, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman (13-13) fell to UCF (14-12) in non-conference action at Jay Bergman Field on Wednesday night. Although the Wildcats took an early advantage, the Knights responded and held B-CU scoreless with a variety of pitchers in the 4-1 loss.
Facing a hitless game in the third, first baseman Eric Sams put a single through the left side and capitalized on an error by UCF catcher Jordan Savinon to reach third. The Wildcats got on the board early, as third baseman Matt Noble sent an RBI single to outer left field, bringing Sams home.
However, the Knights responded across the next two frames, scoring two runs in the third on a James Vasquez double to the right field wall. UCF put up two more in the fourth after the inning was extended by an infield error. An RBI single for JoMarcos Woods and a sacrifice fly by Derrick Salberg put UCF out front 4-1.
Over the next six innings, the Knights rotated through five different pitchers to hold the Wildcats without any more runs, giving up just one B-CU hit and preserving the 4-1 final.
On the counterpoint, the Wildcats only allowed four UCF hits on the night, with just one coming after the fourth, as Scott Garner, John Sever and Michael Austin worked through in relief.
For UCF, the win goes to Ryan Meyer (2-0), who threw 1.1 innings and allowed one hit. For B-CU, Riley O’Brien (0-1) takes the loss, throwing 2.2 and allowing two earned runs.
The Wildcats return to action and conference play on Saturday, as host to a three-game series versus Savannah State. The Tigers (9-16, 2-7 MEAC) defeated North Florida 2-1 in 10 innings on Wednesday.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com
Rattlers drop pair of midweek road games
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida A&M University Baseball team dropped a pair of midweek road games Tuesday and Wednesday, falling at the hands of Jacksonville University, 20-1, and Stetson University, 6-3.
Tuesday, FAMU (7-16) finished with just six hits in the loss at Jacksonville, with catcher Jeremy Barlow’s RBI single scoring Michael Birdsong in the top of the sixth inning.
Javon Johnakin (0-1) took the loss for FAMU, allowing four runs on four hits in one and a third innings, while JU’s Parker Perez was the winning pitcher, working two and two third innings, allowing two hits.
The Dolphins held a 5-0 lead after two innings, breaking the game open with a seven-run fourth to build a 12-0 lead.
Wednesday, the Rattlers actually out hit their hosts, Stetson University (9-16), by a 10-9 count, led by Jared Walker with two hits and two RBI.
Trailing 4-0 after the first inning, FAMU scored two of their three runs in the top of the second inning, before Stetson got two runs in the bottom of the frame for a 6-2 advantage.
The Rattlers tallied a run in the sixth to close out the game’s scoring, but were victim of lack of clutch hitting, as they left 11 runners stranded.
Starting pitcher Matt Schaeffer (0-1) took the loss for FAMU, working just two thirds of an inning in the first, allowing four runs on four hits, with one walk.
The Rattlers continue their road warrior tour this weekend in Greensboro in a three-game face off against MEAC Southern Division leading North Carolina A&T Saturday and Sunday at War Memorial Stadium…. FAMU (4-4 in MEAC) will head to Greensboro in fourth place in the Southern Division, trailing first place A&T (6-3 in MEAC) by one and a half games.
For complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com