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DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) –The North Carolina Central University baseball team faces yet another crucial home series as the Eagles host perennial MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) power and Southern Division leader Bethune-Cookman University for a three-game series beginning with doubleheader action Saturday, April 21 at 11:30 p.m. and ending with a single game on Sunday afternoon, April 22 at 1:00 at the historic Durham Athletic Park.
 
The original game time was scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, but due to the chances of isolated thunder storms officials decided to move the contest up.
 
Bethune-Cookman (23-15 overall, 12-3 MEAC) sits four games ahead of second place NCCU in the standings and swept the first series in Daytona Beach, Fla. back on March 17-18.
 
The Eagles led for most of that series in the Sunshine state holding a 4-0 advantage after five innings before falling 5-4 in game one, and 10-9 after five innings in the series finale only to drop an 11-10 decision in extra innings.
 
During that series in March, freshman Deion Doubledee (Wilson, N.C.) and Tyson Simpson (Burgaw, N.C.) led the Eagles offensively both going 5-for-11 at the plate, recording a .455 batting average, but it was Simpson who finished the three-game set with three doubles, three runs scored, and two RBI.
 
For the Wildcat offense, Anthony Stokes swung a hot bat going 5-for-10 (.500 BA) in three games with four runs scored, a double, three home runs, and eight RBI earning MEAC Player of the Week honors for his efforts.
 
Junior outfielder Luis Diaz (Geneva, N.Y.) still leads NCCU batting .370 which places him third in the MEAC.  Diaz is second in the conference in hits (50), runs scored (36), triples (4), and third in the league with four home runs.  Sophomore Carter Williamson (Roanoke, Va.) is fourth in the MEAC in RBI with 31.  Senior Ross Plummer (Winston-Salem, N.C.) is tied for third in the league with 10 doubles.
 
Game one will see two student-athletes that reside in the MEAC’s top five in strikeouts as NCCU’s Sam Fulmer (Raleigh, N.C.) and B-CU’s Rayan Gonzalez toe the rubber for their respective squads.  Gonzalez (6-0, 1.77 ERA) is second in the MEAC in strikeouts with 50, while Fulmer (3-3, 4.58 ERA) is just four behind at 46.  Gonzalez was nearly unhittable in the first meeting as he threw a complete game (seven innings) four-hitter with eight strikeouts in the 3-0 win over the Eagles.  Fulmer was given a no-decision in the 5-4 loss in game one despite going six innings and surrendering seven hits with three strikeouts.
 
Game two of the Saturday twinbill will see maroon and gray hurler Glenn Frye (Lillington, N.C.) take on Bethune-Cookman’s Gabriel Hernandez (4-1, 2.76 ERA).  Frye earned his second win of the season last week over NC A&T by throwing a complete game (seven innings) allowing 11 hits and surrendering one earned run in the Eagles 8-5 win over the arch-rival Aggies. 
 
Back on March 17 in game two, Frye was nearly flawless except for the bottom of the fourth when the Wildcats plated the game’s only three runs that included an Anthony Stokes two-run homer as Frye went six innings and struck out six batters in taking the loss.  On the other hand, Hernandez threw the first game of the series and gave up four runs through the first four innings and was given a no-decision as Bryan Rivera and Joe Dailey came on in-relief holding the Eagles to one hit the rest of the way, as B-CU came from behind to win.
 
The NCCU Sports Network will have full coverage of the crucial weekend series beginning at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, April 21 as Eagle Gameday built by Dayeco Construction Co. will count down to the first pitch of the MEAC weekend series.  Play-by-play voice of the NCCU Sports Network Chris Hooks will call all the live action from the Durham Athletic Park.  Fans can also stay up-to-date on Twitter by following @NCCUAthletics and by using the hashtag #NCCUbaseball.
 
The weather forecast is calling for possible rain throughout the weekend, stay tuned for more up-to-the-minute information.  The latest updates will be sent out via Twitter, Facebook, E-Scores, and through e-mail.
 
Stay up-to-date with North Carolina Central University Athletics by flying over to www.NCCUEaglePride.com, the official website of NCCU Athletics.