DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University picked up a series-opening win over NJIT after plating six in the first three innings on the way to an 11-2 win on Friday, Feb. 23 at the Durham Athletic Park.
 
NCCU (3-2) put four runs on the board in the first frame after Zach Michalski (Belews Creek, N.C.) put a stamp on the inning with a three-run, bases-clearing double to the gap in right center.  The Eagles collected two more runs in the third on RBI singles from Timmy Fischvogt (Kernersville, N.C.) and Andrew Valichka (Pedricktown, N.J.) to lead 6-0 after the first three frames.
 
Jake McCort (Denver, Colo.) kept NJIT (0-1) off the board all the way until the fifth inning when Paul Franzoni (Robbinsville, N.J.) cashed in on a sacrifice fly.  That would be the only run allowed by McCort who picked up his second consecutive win in his first two career starts, allowing just four hits with seven strikeouts through six complete innings.
 
NCCU still had some power in the tank for the later innings as Mitchell McCrary (Mills Creek, N.C.) homered in the fourth, and Valichka knocked a three-run dinger in the seventh to finish with a game-high four RBI.
 
Game two of the weekend series with NJIT will be played on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 1:00 p.m. at the Durham Athletic Park.  Admission is free.