Hawks Efficient, Advantageous In Opening Day Victory
LEXINGTON, S.C. – Maryland Eastern Shore scattered five hits but produced five runs on their way to a 5-1 victory over the Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) Knights.
UMES (1-0) also took advantage of six errors by FDU (0-1) to seal the victory, its first Opening Day win since the 1994 campaign, when the Hawks defeated North Carolina A&T State.
Senior J.P. Black earned the Opening Day start and did not disappoint, going five innings and allowing just three hits and one run with three strikeouts. Three of the five base hits were registered by players participating in their first game as Hawks—junior Tyler Friis, sophomore Jessey Valdez and freshman Tom Summers, who also tallied an RBI in the contest.
Once Black left the field, three relievers—junior Jason Marquez and seniors Will Turley and Devin Repine — closed out the contest scattering three hits over four innings.
Game two of the three game series will begin Saturday at 1:00 in the afternoon.
For complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com
Aggies Drop Home Opener to Navy
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Naval Academy used the lines to defeat North Carolina A&T State 6-1 Friday evening on Opening Day at War Memorial Stadium. Three of the Midshipmen’s six RBI came off doubles down the right or left field lines. The Midshipmen also added to their slugging numbers by hitting a home run.
Despite the loss, junior college transfer Robert Peck (RHP) had an outstanding debut for the Aggies on the mound. Peck threw 104 pitches (65 for strikes), scattered seven hits, walked one and struck out six in seven innings of action.
Navy right-handers Andrew Bartek and Jett Meenach combined to hold the Aggies hitless in three innings of relief. Bartek picked up the win, while Stanley took the loss.
The two teams play again on Saturday at War Memorial with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. Aggies sophomore RHP Tevelle Clark will face off against Navy RHP George Coughlin.
For complete story, visit www.ncataggies.com
North Carolina Central Drops Season-Opener to Morehead State
DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University managed only two hits in a season-opening 4-1 loss to Morehead State University on Friday inside Durham Athletic Park.
Junior transfer third baseman Ellington Hopkins and junior catcher Conrad Kovalcik tallied the only hits for the host Eagles. Hopkins, who led off the fifth inning with a double to right-centerfield, scored the lone NCCU run on a groundout by junior outfielder Zachary Marszal.
The Eagles did reach base on six walks, but NCCU batters also struck out 11 times.
Senior pitcher Cameron Scalzo was the opening-day starter for NCCU, allowing four hits, three runs (one unearned) and three walks with three strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work in the loss. Reliever Jamar Hinton tossed three innings, scattering three hits and giving up just one run with three strikeouts.
Morehead State (1-0) recorded nine hits, including solo home runs by Trevor Snyder and Jimmy Wright. Luke Humphreys picked up the victory for MSU, pitching the first five innings and surrendering only two hits and one run with four strikeouts.
The weekend series between NCCU and Morehead State continues on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. inside Durham Athletic Park.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com
Offense on Display as Florida A&M Downs Marshall
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida A&M (1-0) pounded out 17 hits and got a strong performance from starting pitcher JoJo Durden to defeat Marshall (0-1) by a score of 9-4 on Friday at Moore-Kittles Field.
JoJo Durden (1-0) was making his first career collegiate start and worked 5.1 innings and allowed three runs on three hits with seven strikeouts and two walks to earn the win. Durden allowed just one hit over his final 4.1 innings of work. The 17 hits were the most by FAMU since they had 18 against North Carolina Central on March 22, 2014.
The Rattler offense came out to play in the opener as six different players recorded multi-hit performances. Seniors Alec Wong and Ryan Hutson each went 3-for-4, while Wong had two RBI and Hutson added an RBI himself. Marlon Gibbs, Dylan Dillard, Willis McDaniel and Peter Jackson each had two hits on the day. Freshman McDaniel belted a home run in his first career at bat as a Rattler.
Florida A&M and Marshall return to the field tomorrow at 1:00 PM at Moore-Kittles Field for game two of the three game series.
For complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com
Wildcats Fall in Season Opener to Murray State
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Ivan Coutinho and Joseph Calamita allowed just four hits over the final 4.2 innings Friday night, but it was the homestanding Bethune-Cookman Wildcats dropping a 5-0 season-opening decision to the Murray State Racers at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Senior right-hander Alex Seibold started off hot on the mound for Bethune-Cookman (0-1), cruising through the opening inning. B-CU relievers Joseph Calamita and Ivan Coutinho combined to work the final 4 2/3 innings on the hill, as Calamita relieved Seibold in the fifth. He picked up a pair of strikeouts in 1.2 frames, while Coutinho allowed just three hits and fanned three with zero (0) walks in three innings tossed.
The loss went to Seibold, as he gave up five runs (three earned) on eight hits, walked three and struckout four in 4 1/3 innings.
The two teams will meet for the second game of the three-game series Saturday at 1 p.m., back at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com
Hornets drop 11-inning heartbreaker to Gardner-Webb
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. --- Gardner-Webb scored three runs after two were out in the 11th inning, including the tying and winning runs on wild pitches, to stun Delaware State 7-6 in a thrilling season opener at GW’s John Henry Moss Stadium on Friday.
The Hornets scored two runs in the top of the 11th to snap a 4-4 tie, which had held up since the fifth inning.
Delaware State took a 5-4 lead in the top of the 11th when catcher Sam Barber singled to left with two outs, and later crossed the plate when third baseman Devin Beverly followed with a triple to right-center. The next batter, center fielder Darnell Maisonet-Velez, singled in the hole at short to score Beverly, giving the Hornets a two-run lead.
The teams will wrap up the series with a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
For complete story, www.dsuhornets.com