Box Score March 21, 2009
Final Stats
SAVANNAH, Ga.- The sixth and seventh meeting between the North Carolina Central University Eagles and the Savannah State University Tigers were just like the first two. The Eagles miss golden opportunities in game one, and managed just five hits in game two falling in doubleheader action 5-3 and 6-4 at Tiger Field on Saturday.
Game one saw NCCU bang out 10 hits, but left nine runners stranded while Savannah State got at least one hit from every player in the Tiger lineup. The game was tied at 1-1 after three innings, until Savannah State took over, scoring in consecutive innings to take the game one win. In the bottom of the fourth with runners at second and third SSU centerfielder David Washington hit a two-run double to leftfield putting the Tigers up 3-1.
The Eagles next at-bat saw NCCU senior Oliver Jenkins hit his first home run of the year, edging NCCU closer at 3-2. In the bottom half of the fifth the Tigers answered with a dinger of their own. Dexter Washington hit a two-run blast to give Savannah State the 5-2 lead. NCCU scored one more run in the seventh, which was not enough, and the Eagles lost game one 5-3.
Oliver Jenkins finished game one batting 4-for-4 with a home run and 2 RBI, and NCCU sophomores Edward Pegues and Robert Grant were the only other Eagles to collect multiple hits in the game one loss.
On the hill, Jeff Citero (1-3) took the loss, putting up yet another gutsy performance pitching a complete game, and striking out one batter on the day.
Game two saw the Eagles ahead 3-0 heading into the bottom of the second, when the Tigers exploded for five runs on six consecutive hits to take a 5-3 after two innings. The score stayed that way until the sixth when Eagles put up one run thanks to a leadoff double by NCCU freshman Ross Plummer. That run brought NCCU within one at 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth. Savannah State shortstop, Matthew Oglesby, hit a solo shot to right field putting the Eagles away 6-4. Taking the loss for NCCU, Tim Rennard (1-1) sat down out just one Tiger batter in 3.2 innings.
Once again, NCCU catcher Robert Grant swung a hot bat going 2-for-3 with a RBI. On day Grant finished 4-for-6 for the Eagles. Ross Plummer also finished game two going 2-for-3 adding the first career double to his stat sheet.
The two losses push NCCU's record to 3-10 and stretches out its losing streak at five games. The Eagles look to salvage the third and final game of the series on Sunday afternoon with a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.
(Written by Assistant SID, Chris Hooks)
