April 21, 2010

Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (NCCUEaglePride.com)- The North Carolina Central University baseball team allowed host Charlotte to grab the early lead while being held in check managing just four hits in the contest to drop its seventh straight falling 13-1 at the Robert and Mariam Hayes Baseball Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. on Wednesday evening.

The streaking Niners who have now won 17-straight games at home bolted out to a 3-0 in the bottom of the first inning on back-to-back bases loaded walks by NCCU righty Jeff Citero (Raleigh, N.C.), while an RBI-groundout brought in the final run of the frame to put Charlotte up 3-0.

In the top of the second inning, freshman Nate Smith (Raleigh, N.C.) singled to left field, followed by a one out single by junior Edward Pegues (Laurinburg, N.C.) which allowed freshman Derrell Parker (North Miami Beach, Fla.) to drive in the lone Eagle run of the night with a single of the middle to cut the deficit to 3-1. Parker now has a team-high 14 RBIs on the season.

Four Charlotte hits, which included a two-bagger by Justin Roland, added two more runs to the Eagle deficit as the Niners led 5-1 after four innings.

NCCU tried to start a rally in the top of the fifth after getting runners on first and second with one out, but fell short in the frame, still trailing 5-1.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Charlotte turned up the intensity with a three-run home run by senior catcher Zane Williams which led to a five run frame spreading the Niner margin to 10-1 heading into the sixth inning.

The 49ers added one more run in the seventh and two in the eighth to win the ballgame 13-1.

Citero (0-5) took the loss for the Eagles, while NCCU was held to just one hit after scoring its lone run in the second inning.

NCCU (1-36) has the rest of the week off and will get back to action next Wednesday, April 28 against future MEAC and March 10 opponent, Norfolk State University. The Eagles will be looking to avenge a doubleheader sweep by the Spartans who exploded for 13 runs in its last at-bat after trailing 6-5 heading into the final inning. The twinbill is set for a 3:00 p.m. first pitch from Marty Miller Field in Norfolk, Va.

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