DURHAM, N.C. - (
www.NCCUEaglePride.com)- The Jim Koerner era will officially begin on Friday, Feb. 17, at 3:00 p.m. as North Carolina Central University will host UNC Asheville at the Durham Athletic Park for a season-opening three-game set.
The Eagles and the Bulldogs have met just once on the diamond since NCCU re-introduced the sport in 2007 with UNCA taking a 5-4 thriller at Greenwood Field on March, 24, 2010.
The maroon and gray are coming off a 7-39 campaign in 2011 and return 13 letter-winners this season. NCCU will compete in the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) in the Southern Division.
Taking the hill on Opening Day will be junior right hander Glenn Frye (Lillington, N.C.) who set a modern day NCCU baseball record in his 13-strikeout performance against Coppin State on April 17, 2011. Frye made 11 starts last season and tied for the team-high in wins with two. He also lead the squad with 67 strikeouts, now needing just five strikeouts to reach 100 in his career.
Saturday, junior transfer Gavin Guarerra (Webster, N.Y.) will make his Eagle debut as the 6-0, 215-pound left hander came to NCCU via Monroe Community College where he was a teammate with fellow-newcomer junior Luis Diaz (Geneva, N.Y.). Guarerra went 5-3 last season and sported a 2.20 ERA for MCC with 39 strikeouts.
For UNCA, senior righty Ryan Dull will hit the mound on Friday for the Bulldogs coming off a junior campaign where he finished with a 4.62 ERA in 74.0 innings pitched with 66 strikeouts and three complete games. Game two, third year head coach Tom Smith will send left handed junior Drew Spear to the hill.
First pitch on Friday is set for 3:00 p.m., fans that cannot make it to the ballpark can tune in to the NCCU Sports Network beginning at 2:45 p.m. with Eagle Gameday built by Dayeco Construction Co. Play-by-play voice of the NCCU Sports Network Chris Hooks will call all the live action from historic Durham Athletic Park.
Due to doubleheader action in basketball between NCCU and NC A&T on Saturday, there will not be a broadcast, but the NCCU Sports Network will be back for Sunday’s series finale with a 12:45 air time.
Stay up-to-date with North Carolina Central University baseball by flying over to the official website of North Carolina Central University Athletics, www.NCCUEaglePride.com.
