NCCU Tournament Bound after Doubleheader Split with Florida A&M
DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University exploded for five runs in the first inning of game one, and Andrew Vernon finished it off with his record-breaking 15th career save to send the Eagles to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Baseball Championship with a 9-6 win over Florida A&M University at the Durham Athletic Park on Saturday.
In the second game, Ricky Page was able to outlast Cameron Scalzo in a pitcher’s duel to give FAMU (25-18, 15-5 MEAC) a 4-0 win.
NCCU (24-26, 11-12 MEAC) batted around in the first inning and Thomas Prospero powered a three-run shot opposite way to give the home side a commanding 5-0 lead after the first frame. Jacky Miles, Jr. put the Rattlers on the board with a solo shot in the second, and that started the beginning of FAMU’s stead climb back into the game.
NCCU pulled a run back after a pair of errors to lead 6-1 in the bottom of the second, but after that the Rattlers kept the Eagles off the board while they scored runs of their own.
FAMU put together three runs in the top of the fourth with a two-RBI single from A.J. Elkins and then Ben Ellzey added an RBI hit in the fifth to trim NCCU’s lead to one at 6-5.
The Eagles loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, and a hit batter and an error allowed NCCU to score three crucial runs to pull ahead 9-5 going to the final frame.
FAMU put runners on first and second and then a two-out RBI double from Ellzey brought the tying run to the plate and created a save situation for Vernon. Vernon induced a groundball to the first baseman, and he took it to the bag to clinch NCCU’s spot in the tournament.
In the second game of the day neither team could crack the scoreboard until a solo shot from Brian Davis gave FAMU a 1-0 advantage in the top of the sixth of the seven inning game. The Rattlers added three more runs in the top of the seventh to push the score to 4-0 going to the final half-inning.
Zachary Marszal and Conrad Kovalcik came through with back-to-back two-out singles, but Page was able to seal the game for the shutout.
The deciding game of the series will take place on Sunday afternoon, May 8 at 1:00 p.m. at the Durham Athletic Park.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.famuathletics.com
DeLeon Pitches Gem As Hornets Ground Hawks
DOVER, Del. --- Sophomore right hander Lane DeLeon tossed a complete game, allowing just four hits and striking out a season-high 10 to lead Delaware State to a 4-1 victory over UMES in a MEAC North contest at Soldier Field.
The complete game was the second of DeLeon’s career and marked the third time that he’s reached double-figures in strikeouts at DSU.
The game didn’t start out well for the Sussex Tech (Del.) High School product.
UMES second baseman and leadoff batter Mike Escanilla hit DeLeon’s sixth pitch of the game over the scoreboard beyond the right field fence to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
DeLeon (2-5) gave up just three singles and did not allow a runner past second base the rest of the way. He struck out two batters in the first, fourth, sixth and eighth innings.
The 1-0 UMES lead held up until the fourth inning when the Hornets put two runs on the board.
Todd Henry drew a four-pitch walk off Hawk starter Chris Melrath (0-6) to lead off the inning. After a sacrifice bunt by Kwestin Smith moved Henry to second base, Darnel Maisonet followed with a single to right center to score Henry and tie the game. The Hornets took a 2-1 lead when Devin Beverly doubled in Austin Bentley with two outs in the inning.
Delaware State tacked on a run in the sixth when Smith led off the inning with a double and crossed the plate on Maisonet’s second RBI single of the game.
The Hornets opened up a three-run lead with a run in the seventh. Catcher Adrian Hill singled with two outs and stole second. Henry followed with a single to right to score Hill, giving DSU a 4-1 lead.
Delaware State won its second straight game to improve to 12-9 in the MEAC (12-33 overall). UMES fell to 15-31 overall and 6-15 in conference play.
The Hornets and Hawks will close out the series with a doubleheader on Sunday. Game one is set for 1 p.m. at Soldier Field.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com or www.umeshawks.com