Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Game One Box Score (HTML)


Game Two Box Score (HTML)

DAYTONA  BEACH, FLA. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – The Eagles of North Carolina Central University were swept in doubleheader action against Bethune-Cookman University on Saturday, March 17 dropping game one 5-4 and were shutout 3-0 in game two at the Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Fla. on Saturday afternoon.
 
The maroon and gray pounced on two Wildcat errors to take a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning after Carter Williamson (Roanoke, Va.) reached first on a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Anthony Wilson (Fort Washington, Md.).  After Ross Plummer (Winston-Salem, N.C.) reached on an error, freshman first baseman Deion Doubledee (Wilson, N.C.) singled through the infield to earn his first NCCU hit and RBI putting the Eagles up 1-0.  An error by B-CU shortstop, Brashad Johnson, allowed Drayton to reach base and drive in the final two runs of the frame which put the maroon and gray up 3-0.
 
The Eagles plated their final run of the first contest in the fourth inning, when Drayton earned his third RBI of the game on a fielder’s choice, but it was Doubledee’s single that set the table for the NCCU offense.
 
With a 4-0 lead, Bethune-Cookman managed to get on the board in the sixth when NCCU barely missed on a double play and the Wildcats used that break to their favor scoring three runs that included a double to the wall in left field by Anthony Stokes, and a triple down the right field line by Juan Pizzaro as B-CU scratched back to trail 4-3 heading into the seventh.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, B-CU took its first lead of the day on a David Lee double that drove in two runs putting the Wildcats ahead 5-4.
 
The defensive play of the day saved the game for B-CU as Plummer hit a blooper towards the shortstop with two outs and Troy Marrow (Lutherville, Md.) running on the pitch.  B-CU’s Johnson made a diving grab in the shallow area of the outfield saved the tying run from crossing the plate, keeping the Wildcats ahead.
 
In the top of the ninth, NCCU had runners at second and third with one out and could not drive them in dropping game one 5-4.
 
In a pitching performance that resulted in a no-decision, Sam Fulmer (Raleigh, N.C.) paced the Eagles on the hill allowing three runs on seven hits in six innings of work with three strikeouts.
 
B-CU’s Bryan Rivera (1-2) took the win working two-and-a-third inning and surrendering just one hit in relief.
 
Tyson Simpson Jr. (Burgaw, N.C.) went 2-for-3 with a run scored along with Doubledee’s 2-for-4 effort with a RBI.  Drayton ended game one with three RBI as well.
 
Game two saw a great pitching duel between NCCU’s Glenn Frye (Lillington, N.C.) and the Wildcats Rayan Gonzalez and for the baseball purist it was a thing of beauty.
 
In the seven inning contest neither team could plate a run through the first three innings. In fact, before the fourth inning both teams had one hit apiece.
 
B-CU’s only inning of success against Frye came in the bottom of the fourth inning with one out.  An Alejandro Sanchez single followed up by a Johnson single up the middle put the first run on the board and put B-CU on top 1-0.  The next batter, Stokes cranked his third home run of the season down the left field line that wrapped around the foul pole putting the Wildcats ahead at 3-0.
 
NCCU managed just four hits against the B-CU ace, but scraped together a bases loaded situation in the top of the six that began on Doubledee’s fourth hit of the day.  After a Nate Smith (Raleigh, N.C.) walk, junior Luis Diaz ripped a single up the middle to load the bases with one out.  Marrow and Williamson could not come through and the Eagles left the bases full still trailing 3-0.
 
The Wildcats held on for the 3-0 victory and the doubleheader sweep, but Gonzalez (4-0) earned the win and recorded his second shutout of the season, his first complete game giving up only four hits and striking out eight batters.
 
Frye (1-3) had no reason to hang his head in taking the loss as he allowed just three runs on four hits and recorded six strikeouts.
 
Doubledee led the Eagle attack at-the-dish on the day with a 4-for-6 effort at the plate including an RBI. 
 
NCCU (3-16, 2-3 MEAC) will look to salvage a game in the weekend set on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at the Jackie Robinson Ballpark for the series finale.  Tune into the NCCU Sports Network beginning at 12:45 with Eagle Gameday built by Dayeco Construction Co. as Chris Hooks will call the live action.
 
Stay up-to-date with North Carolina Central University Athletics by flying over to www.NCCUEaglePride.com, the official website of NCCU Athletics.