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DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – A seven-run third inning by Duke University proved to be too much for North Carolina Central University to overcome as the visiting Blue Devils earned an 11-2 victory over their neighbor Eagles at historic Durham Athletic Park on Wednesday.

Duke (4-1) scored two runs in the first inning without the benefit of a base hit. Eagles starting hurler Douglas Dalley walked the first two Blue Devils of the contest, hit a batter and surrendered runs on a fielder’s choice and a double steal. Duke plated an unearned run in the second inning when the leadoff batter reached on an error and later scored on an RBI single by designated hitter Jeff Kremer.

The Blue Devils turned a 3-0 lead into a 10-run cushion in the third. Following an infield error and a hit batter to open the frame, Duke crushed six hits in eight plate appearances to blow the game open.

NCCU (0-4) responded by lighting the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. After back-to-back singles by #Tyson Simpson, Jr. and Dylan Drayton# to start the inning, Simpson scored when Drayton got picked off a second base.

Brandon Oatis took the mound for the Eagles in the top of the fourth and surrendered only one unearned run on three hits over the next four innings. Jasper Jones picked up where Oatis left off by throwing two scoreless innings, allowing only one hit.

The shutdown pitching performances by Oatis and Jones were not enough for NCCU. Offensively, the Eagles pounded out nine hits, including a 3-for-4 day by Simpson, but they left 10 runners stranded on the base paths. Drayton and first baseman Blake Murray tallied two hits apiece for the home team, while catcher Carter Williamson and designated hitter Ross Plummer each singled.

Shortstop Angelo LaBruna paced the Duke offense with two hits, two RBI and two runs scored in five trips to the batter’s box. Chris Marconcini also carded a pair of hits, including a run-scoring triple in the decisive third inning. As a team, the Blue Devils amassed 11 hits with 10 RBI in 38 at-bats.

Robert Huber was credited with the victory after relieving starting pitcher Dillon Haviland in the third inning. Haviland gave up one hit in two scoreless innings of work, while Huber allowed one unearned run and scattered four hits in four innings of action.

Duke remains unbeaten in the series with the NCCU, holding the Eagles to three runs or less in all eight match-ups.

After opening the 2011 campaign with four straight home games, NCCU hits the road for a weekend series at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Ga.


WRITER’S NOTE: The sports information baseball contacts for each university, Chris Hooks of NCCU and Chris Cook of Duke, celebrated their birthdays on Wednesday inside the press box of the historic Durham Athletic Park. Happy Birthday guys!