Box Score
Complete Box Score
DURHAM, N.C. (NCCUEaglePride.com)- Faced with a 2-0 deficit heading into the bottom of the eighth, having already left eight runners on base, the North Carolina Central University Eagles used Derrell Parker’s first grand slam of the season to break open a tie game as NCCU won the final game of the weekend series against Savannah State University 6-2 to end a 14-game losing streak on Sunday afternoon at the Durham Athletic Park.
The weekend finale between NCCU and SSU turned out to be a pitcher’s duel for most of the ballgame as both starters Sam Fulmer (Raleigh, N.C.) for the Eagles and Kyle McGowin for the Tigers combined to strike out 17 batters, but it was Savannah State that held the 2-0 advantage early.
With two hits in the top of the first that included the ninth hit and third double of the weekend for SSU right fielder Dexter Kelley followed up by Joseph McCray’s triple, the Tigers grabbed a 1-0 lead.
In the second inning a leadoff walk came around to score for SSU giving the Tigers the 2-0 advantage after two innings.
SSU’s righty McGowin didn’t allow an Eagle hit until the fourth frame when freshman Carter Williamson (Roanoke, Va.) got the first of two hits on the day, but the Eagles left runners at the corners stranded after Edward Pegues flew out to left to end the threat.
That recurring theme continued all the way until the eighth inning as NCCU left the bases loaded in the fifth, and two more runners on in the sixth, almost spoiling a tremendous effort by Fulmer on the mound who went seven and one-thirds innings and struck out eight batters.
The drama unfolded in the eighth inning when freshman Nate Smith (Raleigh, N.C.) who was out 18-games with a severe hand injury led off with a walk. A Ross Plummer infield hit put runners on first and second and no outs, when Pegues got his chance at redemption after Williamson successfully moved both runners to third and second respectively with a sacrifice bunt.
Pegues singled through the right side to tie the ballgame at two, giving the senior 11 RBIs on the season. A Blake Murray (Wendell, N.C.) walk and a error by SSU pitcher Jason Wynn loaded the bases with one out when NCCU head coach Dr. Henry White made the decision to bring in sophomore Derrell Parker (North Miami Beach, Fla.) to pinch hit.
Parker crushed the pitch over the right field wall and over the building behind the stadium sending the home crowd into a frenzy and giving the Eagles the cushion it would need to get the win at 6-2. Prior to that at-bat Parker was hitting 4-for-34 (.118) giving the second year student-athlete a ton of confidence with one swing of the bat, his second career grand slam at NCCU.
Senior lefty Brandon Oatis (Matthews, N.C.) came on in relief and earned the win for the Eagles.
NCCU (2-25) looks to make it two-in-a-row on Wednesday, April 6 at 3:00 p.m. in doubleheader action against Campbell at the Durham Athletic Park.
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