March 27, 2010

Final Stats

GREENVILLE, N.C. (NCCUEaglePride.com)- Game two of the series between North Carolina Central University and nationally-ranked East Carolina University saw the No. 25 Pirates score runs in five of eight at-bats while the Diamond Eagles scattered five hits and could not hold on to an early lead dropping a 15-2 decision on Saturday afternoon in front of 3,247 fans at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium.

NCCU jumped out to the quick advantage as Akeem Hood (Raleigh, N.C.) led off the ballgame with a base hit. After Kurt Wilson (Riverdale, Ga.) struck out, freshman Nate Smith (Knightdale, N.C.) hit his third double of the season as Hood scored from first base and the Eagles grabbed a 1-0 lead after the top of the first inning. Smith racked up his sixth RBI on the season with the two-bagger.

The Diamond Eagles lead was short lived however as a throwing error by backstop Blake Murray (Wendell, N.C.) was credited with a throwing error at third base after Drew Robinson (Carthage, N.C.) struck out ECU's Corey Thompson, tying the ballgame at 1-1.

With the game still tied at one in the third inning, Hood connected for his second single on the day. After Hood's third stolen base of the season and a groundout advancing him to third, the Eagles could not bring in the sophomore outfielder leaving him stranded and the game still tied.

The Pirates took full advantage of that over the next two innings and it all started in the bottom of the third inning when Thompson hit a double that drove in two runs with one out in the frame to give ECU the 3-1 advantage.

The following inning, East Carolina put up one run before a Hood error on a routine fly ball gave the Pirates two more runs that put them up 6-1 after four complete immings.

NCCU did not hang its head, as sophomore Edward Pegues (Laurinburg, N.C.) cranked out his first home run of the season out to "The Jungle" in right field to keep the Diamond Eagles within reach trailing 6-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth.

From that point forward, the Eagle pitching struggles came out as the Pirates scored the games final nine runs with runs in the sixth and six runs in the seven to pull away for the 15-2 win.

Robinson (0-5) took the loss for NCCU, but the junior pitched very well in front of the Pirate nation going 4.0 innings allowing just three earned runs and struck out two despite six walks.

Hood shined at the plate again for the Eagles going 2-for-4 in the defeat, as the sophomore has raised his average to .307 on the year, going 4-for-8 in the series.

NCCU (0-21) looks to salvage a game in the series on Sunday afternoon at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium. First pitch between the Pirates and the Eagles is set for 1:00 p.m. Junior Douglas Dalley has been tabbed as the Sunday starter for NCCU.

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