Kovalcik Lifts NCCU to Walkoff Win over Bethune-Cookman
DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University junior Conrad Kovalcik hit a towering solo home run early in the game, and drilled a walkoff double deep to centerfield to give the Eagles a 4-3 win over Bethune-Cookman in the 10th inning on Sunday at the Durham Athletic Park.
Andrew Vernon got the ball for NCCU (10-11, 3-3 MEAC) in his first career start and retired the first six batters he saw with three strikeouts mixed in. Vernon ran into a bit of a jam in the third inning, when the first two batters of the inning reached base to break up the no-hit bid. The runners eventually advanced to second and third, and Vernon turned in three-straight punchouts to tightrope out of danger.
While Vernon kept B-CU (8-12, 2-4 MEAC) off the board, the Eagles put up a few runs in the third on three consecutive hits. Thomas Prospero picked up an RBI single, and he was brought in on a double by James Dey to give NCCU a 2-0 lead after three frames.
Kovalcik struck for his hit of the day on a long blast that reached the roof of the warehouse in right-center in the bottom of the fourth, and the Eagles took a 3-0 advantage into the fifth inning.
The Wildcats were finally able to reach Vernon for a couple runs on a two-RBI single from Jameel Edney, but the right hander was able to leave the game with a 3-2 lead after five complete innings.
Vernon unfortunately would be left with a no decision as Rakeem Quinn leveled the game on an RBI single in the seventh inning to make the score 3-3.
From that point, it turned into a duel between closers in Justice Sampson for NCCU and Clint Clymer for the Wildcats. Clymer was brought in with two men out in the eighth inning and registered a strikeout against his first batter to keep the game level at 3 going to the ninth.
NCCU got the winning run aboard in the bottom of the ninth after a one-out single from John Ortiz but a double play pushed the game into extra innings.
Sampson was called in with one out in the seventh inning, and he was able to record a double play against his first batter to exit the inning. Sampson pitched three and two-thirds of an inning for the Eagles and picked up two strikeouts without allowing a single hit to get NCCU to the bottom of the tenth.
With two outs on the board, Carlos Ortiz stung a single to the outfield, and was moved to second after the next batter got hit. Kovalcik stepped up and drove a double to the wall over the head of the centerfielder to give the Eagles the dramatic 4-3 win, and allow Sampson to move to 3-0 on the season.
NCCU stays at home to host Campbell University on Tuesday, March 22 at 6:00 p.m. at the Durham Athletic Park.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.bcuathletics.com
Upcoming UMES Games with Mount St. Mary’s Postponed, Cancelled
PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland— The Nor’easter that hit Delmarva this weekend continues to wreak havoc with the Maryland Eastern Shore baseball schedule, as the team announced more postponements for this week.
Tuesday’s doubleheader with Mount St. Mary’s has now been moved to a single, nine inning game on April 6th at 3:00 in the afternoon. The second proposed game has been outright cancelled.
The Hawks already postponed Sunday’s series finale with Coppin State. That game will be made up, either at Coppin in April or when the Eagles return to Princess Anne later next month.
With the postponements, the next scheduled game for Maryland Eastern Shore will be Friday against Norfolk State.
For complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com