Box Score April 7, 2009
GAME ONE
GAME TWO
DURHAM, N.C.- The North Carolina Central University baseball team took its shortest jaunt of the season, falling in doubleheader action to the Duke University Blue Devils at Jack Coombs Field 14-1, 9-3 on Tuesday afternoon.
Game one saw the visiting Eagles throw the first blow in the opening inning. It all began with NCCU senior Oliver Jenkins hitting a double down the left field line. The ensuing batter, David Scott, hit an RBI single to right field driving Jenkins home to put NCCU up 1-0. The Eagles went on to load the bases in the top of the first, but junior second baseman Kurt Wilson hit into a double-play ending the threat for NCCU in the first.
Duke was able to tie the game up with an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning, but was held scoreless until the Eagles became unglued in the bottom of the fourth. NCCU freshman hurler Brandon Strickland held the volatile Blue Devil lineup in check, until he ran out of gas in the bottom of the fourth as Duke plated seven runs to pull ahead 8-1.
The host Blue Devils went on to score one more run in the fifth, and five more in the sixth to close the door on any chance for an Eagle upset in game one. Duke actually batted around in the fourth and the sixth.
Strickland (1-1) took the loss, giving up seven earned runs and surrendering 11 hits in three innings.
The Blue Devils pounded out 17 hits in the win and the Eagles finished game one with eight hits, six of which came from Akeem Hood, David Scott, and Jenkins, the top three batters in the NCCU order. Scott led the way with a 3-for-4 effort along with one RBI. NCCU left nine runners stranded, while Duke left 10 on the base path.
The second game saw NCCU junior transfer Joseph Cobb start out strong on the hill, but the Eagles still found themselves trailing 2-1 after two innings on the heels of a Marcus Moore RBI triple.
NCCU's first run came when junior Kurt Wilson stole home to put the Eagles on the board.
The fourth inning became the Eagles undoing once again, but the top half of the frame witnessed Dr. Henry White's squad take the lead 3-2, thanks to David Scott and sophomore Blake Murray reaching base. A balk by Blue Devils hurler Joe Pedevillano advanced Murray and Scott to second and third. An RBI groundout and a sacrifice fly by Justin Goodson gave NCCU the 3-2 lead.
Duke's next at-bat was the turning point in the ballgame when the Blue Devils loaded the bases, then scored five runs on three hits, including a three-run double by Duke's Will Piwinica-Worms to take a 7-3 lead after four innings.
The first career home run the Blue Devils' Dennis O'Grady proved to be the final margin in game two, completing the doubleheader sweep with the 9-3 victory.
Jenkins and Kurt Wilson both went 2-for-2 in the game two loss, but it was NCCU third baseman Scott who finished the day 4-for-7 with an RBI and a run scored.
NCCU (4-17) now turns its attention to getting rid of a five-game losing streak this Thursday afternoon at Longwood University. Game one of the doubleheader is set for a 12:00 p.m. first pitch at Lancer Stadium.
