Box Score
Complete Box Score
DURHAM, N.C.- (NCCUEaglePride.com) – Through the first five innings the North Carolina Central University baseball team held tight with one of the top teams in the region trailing Charlotte 2-1 but four errors allowed the visiting Forty-Niners to score six unearned runs in a two inning span to pull away for the 13-1 win on Wednesday afternoon at the Durham Athletic Park in Durham, N.C.
The Niners grabbed the early lead at 1-0 in the top of the first inning when J.J. Elseser doubled down the right field line to drive in Cory Tilton putting Charlotte on the board.
In the second inning the Niners scored their second run of the game after Miguel Rodriguez reached on an error and later scored when Tilton doubled to left center giving Charlotte the 2-0 advantage.
In the top of the fourth inning, senior right hander Douglas Dalley (Durham, N.C.) became the first Eagle to record 100 career strikeouts when he mowed down Charlotte’s Miguel Rodriguez. Dalley threw five innings and allowed just three hits and two runs, none of which were earned in taking the loss.
The Eagles finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning when junior Akeem Hood (Ralegh, N.C.) recorded the first hit of the day, which was immediately followed up by Troy Marrow’s (Lutherville, Md.) RBI double cutting the deficit in half at 2-1. Freshman backstop Carter Williamson (Roanoke, Va.) followed that up with a single of his own to right field but Justin Wilson cut Marrow off at home to thwart the Eagle rally.
Everything fell apart for the Eagles in the sixth and seventh as the Niners plated six runs that included a four-run, all unearned, sixth frame that was aided by two Eagle errors chasing senior Brandon Oatis out of the game and spoiling Dalley’s tremendous effort on the hill.
With two runs in the seventh, Charlotte led 8-1 and seemed to be cruising to the win until the ninth inning when Michael Green hit his first home run of his career that aided a five-run ninth and put the Eagles away for the 13-1 win for Charlotte.
The Niners pitching staff combined to allow just five hits and allowed only one run in the win, while the Eagles gave up just six earned runs in the contest.
Williamson led the Eagles going 2-for-4 at the dish that included a walk for NCCU in the loss.
The Eagles (1-19) prepare to hit the road this weekend for a three-game set against Delaware State that begins this Saturday, March 26 at Soldier Field in Dover, Del.
Stay up-to-date with NCCU Athletics by logging onto www.NCCUEaglePride.com, the official website of the North Carolina Central University Athletics Department.
