Box Score

UNCA vs NCCU Box Score (PDF)

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DURHAM, N.C. - (www.NCCUEaglePride.com)-  A disastrous nine-run second inning and 14 walks issued ruined opening day for the 2012 North Carolina Central University baseball team as the visiting Bulldogs of UNC Asheville used that inning to cruise to a 13-3 win at the Durham Athletic Park on Friday afternoon.
 
On a beautiful sunny day, the Jim Koerner era started off slow with the Eagles immediately behind in the top of the first inning after junior Glenn Frye (Lillington, N.C.) issued a one out walk to Eli Miller who then wound up stealing second and was later driven in by a Grant Gajdosz single to center which put UNC Asheville up 1-0 from the get go.  NCCU averted danger during that threat by forcing the visiting Bulldogs to leave two runners stranded.
 
After the Eagles went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first, UNCA took full advantage of Frye’s subpar performance on the hill.  Two walks and a Jordan Lurie single loaded the bases for the Bulldogs and it all came crumbling down from there.  Billy Creighton singled down the right field line to drive in two runs putting UNCA up 3-0.  Gajdosz singled to left field to make it 4-0, and Patrick Koontz hit a three-run bomb over the short porch in right field to jolt the Bulldogs in front 7-0.  Three more runs would cross the plate in the frame as UNCA pulled away at 10-0.    All in all, UNCA scored nine runs on six hits and were aided by one Eagle error in that frame.
 
The host Eagles did manage to muster two hits in the bottom of the second but could not drive them home, while UNCA added another run in the third making it 11-0.
 
The score stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth when the Eagle offense awoke.  NCCU put up three runs on two hits that included a two RBI single by junior Luis Diaz (Geneva, N.Y.) that scored the first runs for the maroon and gray in 2012.  A Carter Williamson (Roanoke, Va.) single to left center plated the third and final run of the day for the Eagles.
 
UNCA added two more runs in the top of the ninth and that’s where the game ended as the Bulldogs were victorious 13-3.
 
Earning the win for UNCA, Ryan Dull, pitched four-and-two-thirds innings allowing only three earned runs with six strikeouts and just two walks, while Frye lasted only one-and-two-thirds innings allowing six hits and nine earned runs in the loss. 
 
As a team, the Eagles walked 14 batters on the day compared to just five for UNC Asheville (1-0).
 
Despite being down when he entered the game, junior transfer Gabe Brown gave NCCU a solid five-and-one-thirds innings allowing only five hits and one earned run.
 
At the dish, NCCU (0-1) scattered seven hits with Carter Williamson going 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Diaz finished with a 1-for-4 effort with 2 RBI and a run scored.
 
The Eagles will have two chances to get back on track with doubleheader action slated for Saturday afternoon beginning at 12:00 at the Durham Athletic Park. 
 
Junior Gavin Guarerra (Webster, N.Y.) will make his Eagle debut in game one while sophomore Jacob Russell (Winston-Salem, N.C.) is slated to start game two which will take place approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first contest.
 
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.