March 9, 2010
DURHAM, N.C. (NCCUEaglePride.com)- The North Carolina Central University baseball team turns its focus to a very busy week beginning at the Durham Athletic Park on Wednesday afternoon at 1:00 against future MEAC opponent Norfolk State. Admission to the ballpark is free.
NSU enters Wednesday's twinbill with an overall record of 4-5-1, having lost its last two contests. The Spartans were picked second in the MEAC preseason poll by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors and is currently led by junior third baseman Chris Joyce, who is batting a team-high .455 in nine games this season while topping the roster with six doubles. Joyce is tied for second on the team with six RBIs.
Entering the week, junior third baseman Blake Murray (Wendell, N.C.) has seen his early season slump come to a hault as he went 5-for-11 with two doubles, scored two runs, and one RBI against Georgia State over the weekend. That effort pushed his batting average up to .292, good enough for third on the team behind sophomore Akeem Hood (Raleigh, N.C.), who is batting .313 after eight games.
NCCU will send Drew Robinson (Carthage, N.C.) back out on the hill on Wednesday in game one as the 6-6 junior lasted just one-third of an inning against Georgia State, surrendering seven earned runs on five Panther hits. Robinson sits at 0-2 and is looking for his first win as an Eagle.
Bull City native Douglas Dalley is scheduled for the start in game two. Dalley made his first appearance of 2010 in the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday. In three complete innings of work, Dalley struck out four batters while allowing only five runs.
NCCU (0-8) is currently 0-5 against Norfolk State with the two teams playing in the last two seasons. Last year up in Norfolk, Va., the Spartans swept NCCU (14-4, 13-0) at Marty L. Miller Field.
First pitch of game one is set for 1:00 on Wednesday afternoon and admission is free at the Durham Athletic Park.
To stay up-to-date with NCCU Athletics, log on to NCCUEaglePride.com, the official website of the NCCU Athletics Department.
