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DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – The North Carolina Central University baseball team dropped a 4-1 decision to in-state foe Davidson College on Tuesday night in a rain-shortened ballgame that was called after the seventh inning at the Durham Athletic Park.
 
Despite trailing 4-0 after two innings, starting pitcher Gabe Brown (Rocky Mount, N.C.) settled down to shut down the Wildcats over the next four innings to keep the Eagles in the ballgame.
 
After allowing four runs on six hits through the first two frames, Brown surrendered one more hit the rest of the way, before being taken out in the seventh inning.
 
The top of the first inning for Davidson happened very similarly to NCCU’s first at-bat last Tuesday, March 13 at Wilson Field, racking up three runs on four hits highlighted by Andrew Barna’s second triple of the year giving Davidson the early 3-0 lead.
 
After adding another run in the second to take a 4-0 lead, NCCU finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning after starting Wildcat pitcher Bryan DaCanal issued a walk to junior Nate Smith (Raleigh, N.C.).  That’s when sophomore Tyson Simpson (Burgaw, N.C.) ripped a double to the right centerfield wall and Smith to scored from first base plating the Eagles first run of the night to cut the deficit to three at 4-1.
 
The biggest maroon and gray threat of the night took place in the sixth inning with the momentum clearly on the Eagles side.  NCCU loaded the bases with one out on two walks and Troy Marrow’s (Lutherville, Md.) fifth double of the year forcing Davidson to change pitchers.
 
Freshman Matt Saeta entered the ballgame facing one of the hottest hitters in the NCCU lineup as Simpson came to the plate having hit four doubles in the last two ballgames.  With a full count, Saeta threw a breaking ball that Simpson hit to Michael Zeblo, the Wildcat shortstop, for the inning-ending double play thwarting all of the Eagle energy.
 
An inning later, lightning was spotted in the area which forced game officials to clear the field later prompting the contest to be called heading into the top of the eighth inning.
 
With the loss, NCCU drops to 3-18 on the year and has lost five straight.  Davidson moves its record up to 8-10 winners of three straight.
 
Marrow finished the night with two of the three Eagle hits that included his fifth double of the year and Simpson’s lone hit in his three plate appearances was his fifth double as well.
NCCU starter, Brown took the loss for the Eagles, but has nothing to hang his head about.  After the rough start, he ended up going six-innings allowing only three earned runs and struck out a season-high four Wildcat batters.
 
The Eagles will get back to action weather permitting on Wednesday night, March 21 at 6:00 at the Durham Athletic Park as the Hawks of Maryland Eastern Shore make the trip to the Bull City for a non-conference showdown.
 
The NCCU Sports Network will follow every pitch of Wednesday night’s action beginning 5:45 with Eagle Gameday built by Dayeco Construction Co.  Play-by-play voice Chris Hooks will call all the live action for each contest this week.  Fans can also follow the games on twitter by following @NCCUAthletics and by using the hashtag #NCCUbaseball.
 
Stay up-to-date with North Carolina Central University Athletics by flying over to www.NCCUEaglePride.com, the official website of NCCU Athletics.