Florida A&M completes sweep of North Carolina Central
BOSTON, Mass. – Florida A&M (17-22, 13-8 MEAC) moved into first place in the MEAC Southern Division after completing the sweep over North Carolina Central (19-25, 12-11 MEAC) by a score of 9-4 on Saturday at Fenway Park.
The Rattlers scored six runs over the final four innings and Ryan Kennedy’s two-run home run over the Green Monster in the eighth inning sealed the win. The FAMU bullpen held NCCU scoreless and with just three hits over the final 3.2 innings.
Alec Wong led the offense going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored, while Michael Birdsong added a 2-for-4 day at the plate.
Rattler reliever Brandon Fleming (6-1) earned the win after pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief with two hits and a season-high four strikeouts. Starting pitcher Ryan Anderson pitched 5 1/3 innings while allowing four runs on five hits with four walks and one strikeout.
NCCU reliever Kyle Shields (2-4) suffered the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in the sixth inning. Shields only recorded one out with one walk. Starter Devin Sweet lasted 4 2/3 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits with five walks and one strikeout.
Florida A&M will be off this week due to finals, but returns to action next weekend at North Carolina A&T for the final MEAC series of the season. Game one is Saturday, May 2 at 5:00 PM ET and the series will conclude with a doubleheader on Sunday, May 3 beginning at noon.
For complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com or www.nccueaglepride.com
Turlik’s senior day walk off gives Hawks sweep
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – Hawk fans that were in attendance Saturday afternoon had plenty of reasons to celebrate. In a weekend where the Hawks essentially need to sweep in order to challenge the vaunted Norfolk State Spartans for first place in the MEAC Northern Division, the team rose to the occasion, sweeping the Spartans by scores of 2-1 and 1-0.
Sophomore Jesse Stinnett paced the Hawks with a complete game, one-run performance in the first game, and junior Tanner Whiteman threw his second one-hitter against Norfolk State in the nightcap, and senior Greg Turlik capped off Senior Day with a walk-off RBI to complete the sweep.
Furthermore, the Turlik walk-off gives the Hawks their 13th MEAC victory, the most in the history of the program. The Hawks also achieved their 15th overall win, most for the program since the 2006 campaign.
Game two, a seven inning affair per MEAC rules, quickly turned into a hotly contested pitcher’s duel between Whiteman and Devin Hemmerich. Thru five innings of play, both pitchers carried no-hitters as they stymied one batter after another.
Sophomore Justin Dattilo was able to crack the Hemmerich code with two outs in the seventh with a triple to the gap in left-center, becoming just the second baserunner for UMES. That would set up the game winning play, as Turlik lasered a ground ball that went passed the Spartan second baseman, landing in the right field grass and allowing the Hawks a crucial sweep.
A win for the Hawks on Sunday would give the team a series sweep and leave the team just one game back of the division leading Spartans with three games to play. Game time is scheduled for 3:00p.m. at Hawk Stadium.
For complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com or www.nsuspartans.com
Delaware State takes two from Coppin State
HANOVER, Md. – A trio of Coppin State players had two hits each during a 14-5 setback to Delaware State in the second game of a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) doubleheader at Joe Cannon Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Eagles lost the opener, 17-0.
The Eagles were paced in the game by junior Bobby Dragon, who enjoyed a perfect afternoon at the plate by going 2-for-2 and walking twice. He leads the Eagles in hitting with a .311 average. He has 41 hits on the season. His 40th knock of the season was a RBI double scored Bryant Miranda in the bottom of the first inning that gave Coppin State a 2-1 lead. Dragon also leads Coppin State with 12 multi-hit games.
Speaking of multi-hit games, Colin Dower and Michael Wright also had two hits each for Coppin State (3-33-2 overall, 2-18 MEAC). For Dower, it was his eighth multi-hit effort and Wright’s fourth of the season. Jeffrey Fitch scored two of Coppin State’s five runs in the second game.
Lance Montano, Randal Mendez and Alejandro Hernandez all delivered RBI hits during the game. Chris Estrada threw three scoreless innings to finish the game. The difference in the nightcap was that the Hornets scored 11 runs in the fourth inning and had 12 straight batters reach at one point during the frame.
In the opening game, Montano and Hernandez had consecutive two-out hits in the seventh inning for the Eagles. Leading Delaware State (11-25, 10-10) in the opener was Lane Deleon (nine strikeouts) and Charles Dailey (5-for-6 with five RBIs).
Coppin State will honor its seven seniors prior to the start of the series finale against Delaware State Sunday at 12 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com or www.dsuhornets.com