Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 April 3, 2009
Game 1 Final Stats
Game 2 Final Stats
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The North Carolina Central University baseball team traveled down to the Sunshine state to take on Florida A&M University in doubleheader action at Moore-Kittles Field on Friday afternoon. The Eagles let a golden opportunity slip away in game one and gave up five or more runs in two separate innings in game two to fall victim to the sweep 3-2, 17-1.
The first game saw NCCU trailing 3-2 heading into the top of the seventh when NCCU senior Oliver Jenkins led off with a walk. The ensuing batter, Blake Murray, reached second base on a throwing error moving Jenkins over to third. Pinch-hitter Justin Goodson reached first base on a wild pitch to load the bases with no outs. Things quickly turned sour when Kurt Wilson lined out to Florida A&M's second baseman Steve Cunningham for the first out. NCCU then failed on a squeeze bunt attempt that left Jenkins out to dry at homeplate for the second out, and the final out came on a Robert Grant strikeout and a game one loss 3-2.
NCCU sophomore pitcher Douglas Dalley (0-5) took the loss, but had by far his best outing of the season throwing five innings and giving up just five hits and three earned runs. The visiting Eagles left 10 men on base in the contest.
Game two was completely opposite than the afternoon's first contest as Florida A&M racked up 16 hits while NCCU committed its three crucial errors in the Rattlers two biggest innings. FAMU (11-12) started game two off with a bang with five runs in the first and two in the second to bolt out in front 7-0 after two innings. The final nail in NCCU's coffin came in the fourth inning as the Rattlers scored seven runs on five hits, including an Adam Gordon grand-slam putting Florida A&M up for good at 14-0, the Eagles.
NCCU (4-15) plated its lone run in the top of the fifth, and the Rattlers added three more runs to put the scoreboard at its final tally of 17-3.
NCCU sophomore Brandon Oatis (1-3) struggled from the get-go, lasting just three innings, but because of the Eagles unforced errors only gave up five earned runs. Junior shortstop Justin Goodson finished game two with half of the Eagles hits going 2-for-3 at the plate in the loss.
Dr. Henry White and his squad will come back home and rest up for another "Crosstown Showdown" with the Duke University Blue Devils on Tuesday afternoon in doubleheader action. First pitch is set for 3:00 at Jack Coombs Field.
