Eight-Run 4th Sparks Norfolk State in Win Over Maryland Eastern Shore
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Norfolk State scored eight runs in the fourth inning and never looked back in taking an 11-2 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore in game one of the teams' MEAC Northern Division series on Friday afternoon at Hawk Stadium.
Alex Mauricio tied his career with three hits in a 3-for-5 day that included three run-scoring singles. Roger Hall hit two doubles and scored two runs, and Brian Beard went 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Spartans (7-12, 1-2 MEAC), who snapped a three-game losing skid.
Mike Escanilla had two hits for UMES (5-15, 1-2).
Matt Outman (2-2) picked up the win with seven strong innings of work. He allowed six hits and two runs while walking two batters and striking out four. The win was the 18th in Outman's career, moving him into a fifth-place tie list with Luke Foss, James Harris and Dwight Cherry on the school's all-time wins.
Matt Boone pitched a scoreless eighth and Beard tossed a scoreless ninth in his first career pitching appearance for NSU.
The teams play a doubleheader starting at noon on Saturday.
For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com or www.umeshawks.com
Cruz, Rodriguez Power Wildcats Over North Carolina A&T
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Michael Cruz and Danny Rodriguez each recorded home runs Friday afternoon as Bethune-Cookman completed a 9-7 come-from-behind victory over conference opponent North Carolina A&T State in the first game of a three-game Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) series inside Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Bethune-Cookman (10-13, 3-4 MEAC) trailed for much of the game, and looked up at a 7-6 deficit heading into the home-half of the eighth inning.
Redshirt sophomore shortstop Demetrius Sims began the Wildcats at-bat in the eighth with a single up the middle. He would advance to third just moments later as North Carolina A&T State (5-18, 1-3 MEAC) relief pitcher Robert Peck attempted to pickoff Sims at first. However, the ball went wide of Aggies first baseman Kyle Clary’s glove, allowing Sims to scamper to third as the ball trickled into the North Carolina A&T State bullpen.
Rakeem Quinn crossed Sims for the tying run in the next at-bat, using a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing the speedy Sims to knot the score at 7-all.
After sophomore second baseman Jameel Edney was hit by a pitch from Peck, junior designated hitter Michael Cruz delivered a two-run homer to right field – accounting for his seventh home run in the last five games.
That put B-CU on top for good, 9-7.
All-MEAC closer Clint Clymer worked the final two-thirds of the eighth, as well as the entire ninth, earning his first win of the season as he stranded a pair of Aggies in the top-half of the ninth, securing the 9-7 comeback win for the Wildcats.
Severe weather in the Central Florida area forced the coaches and officials to suspend the second game of Friday’s originally scheduled doubleheader.
The two teams will meet Saturday at 11 a.m., concluding the three-game set with a doubleheader back at inside Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The second game of the doubleheader will begin approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first game.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com or www.ncataggies.com
Clutch-Hitting Eagles Take Doubleheader over Savannah State
DURHAM, N.C. – It took a late two-run home run from James Dey but North Carolina Central University was able to pick up the doubleheader sweep over Savannah State University by the scores of 9-5 and 2-1 on Friday, March 25 at the Durham Athletic Park.
Dey homered in game two of the doubleheader and Thomas Prospero launched one over the left field wall in game one, and now NCCU (12-12, 5-3 MEAC) have gone yard in five-straight game stretching back to the doubleheader with Bethune-Cookman on Saturday, March 19.
Alex Dandridge got the start for the first game of the day, and was able to keep SSU (6-18, 1-4 MEAC) out of the run column for the first five frames.
Dey made his first appearance of the afternoon as a reliever for the Eagles as he checked in for the final out of the eighth inning. He was efficient from the bullpen as he pitched an inning and one-third with two strikeouts without allowing a single baserunner to help NCCU secure the game one win.
Following the doubleheader trend that NCCU has seen all year long with high scoring in the first game, and low scoring in the second.
Cameron Scalzo set down the first seven batters he saw in order, and wouldn’t give up a run until the fifth inning. The Tigers finally clawed a run across with a sacrifice fly from Jacob Lightle to lead 1-0 going to the bottom of the frame.
Dey slammed the Eagles back in front with a two-run homer to the roof of the warehouse in right field in the bottom of the fifth and NCCU took that 2-1 lead to the sixth.
Scalzo was able to carry that lead into the seventh inning, but worked into a bit of trouble and the bullpen was called into action again. Justice Sampson had his number called with two runners on and two outs, and used just four strikes to get the clinching strikeout and his third save of the year.
The Eagles will look to pick up the series sweep on Saturday, March 26 at 1:00 p.m. at the Durham Athletic Park,
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.ssuathletics.com
Rattlers Split Doubleheader with Florida Gulf Coast
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida A&M (15-8, 5-1 MEAC) split a doubleheader with Florida Gulf Coast (13-12, 0-0 A-SUN) by scores of 5-6 and 14-9 on Friday at Moore-Kittles Field.
The Rattler offense totaled 30 hits on the day, which included five extra base hits in game two. AJ Elkins and Shane Gordon each recorded their first home runs of the season in game two, while Gordon tallied five RBI in the win. In game two, Ben Ellzey paced the offense going 4-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Ryan Anderson (3-1) pitched a great game in relief to earn the win. Anderson worked the final 4.2 scoreless innings and struck out three batters with no walks.
Both games saw five different Rattlers record multi-hit performances with Alec Wong going 3-for-4 with two runs scored in game one. Dylan Dillard led the team with two RBI in game one, while Gordon (5), Elkins (3), Marlon Gibbs (2) and Ellzey (2) each had multi-RBI games in game two.
Ricky Page (1-2) suffered the loss for FAMU in game one after he allowed five runs on five hits with two walks in 1.2 innings.
Florida A&M next travels over to Jacksonville to face the North Florida Ospreys on Tuesday, March 29. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.famuatheltics.com