Box Score
Complete Box Score
CLINTON, S.C.- (NCCUEaglePride.com) - The North Carolina Central University baseball team found itself behind the eight ball once again on Saturday afternoon at the PC Baseball Complex allowing Presbyterian College get an early lead and could not muster enough offense to come back dropping a 13-7 decision in game two of the weekend series.
After the Diamond Eagles went three up and three down in the top of the first the Blue Hose struck the first blow with three runs in the bottom half of the inning that began with two straight walks, but the NCCU defense kept the damage at a minimum by allowing just two hits in the inning and trailing 3-0 after one inning.
NCCU’s defense again held tight with PC leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the third and even put up its first run of the day on an RBI groundout by freshman Carter Williamson (Salem, Va.) to cut the margin to 3-1.
The Blue Hose blew the game open in the bottom of the fourth. After a leadoff walk, PC put five more runs on the board in the frame with two outs that was aided by two Eagle errors and Aaron Preston’s double to center field that drove in two runs and pushed the PC lead to 8-1.
The top of the sixth saw the Eagles plate two runs bringing the deficit back within five at 8-3 thanks in part to senior Blake Murray’s (Wendell, N.C.) RBI single to the left side. NCCU scored two runs on three hits, but left three runners stranded in that inning.
In the bottom half of that frame, PC was held scoreless as Dylan Drayton (Raleigh, N.C.) turned a double play to keep the Blue Hose at bay.
NCCU could not take advantage of the momentum and it wound up costing the Eagles as Presbyterian scored its final five runs of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning as the bats came alive with five singles that drove in five runs and spread the margin to 13-3 heading into the eighth inning.
The Diamond Eagles tried to mount a rally in the ninth with four runs on three hits that included a double by freshman Troy Marrow (Lutherville, Md.), but it would not be enough as the Eagles fell short in the contest 13-7.
Junior Akeem Hood led the Eagles on the day with a 3-for-5 effort at the dish with three runs scored and an RBI. NCCU racked up 12 hits but left six runners on in the loss. Marrow finished the day 2-for-5 at the plate with two RBIs, while Murray went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
NCCU (1-13) looks to salvage a game in the series as the two teams meet at 2:00 on Sunday afternoon at the PC Baseball Complex
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