Box Score
Final Box Score (HTML)
SAVANNAH, GA. – For the first time in the modern era of the program, the North Carolina Central University baseball team earned a win against Savannah State University in Savannah, Ga. in the final contest of the series, 12-8 on Sunday afternoon at Tiger Field.
With their backs against the wall in trying to avoid the weekend sweep, NCCU bolted out in front at the top of the first with three runs on five hits including Drayton’s third consecutive leadoff hit on the game’s first pitch. The Eagles got the ball rolling with four hits in-a-row that included RBI singles by Luis Diaz (Geneva, N.Y.) and Troy Marrow (Lutherville, Md.).
After a scoreless second inning, NCCU added two more runs in the third as senior Ross Plummer recorded career hit No. 100 to become the fifth Eagle in the modern era to reach that feat. Tyler Murphy (Islip, N.Y.) ripped a double and Drayton brought both runs in on an error by SSU shortstop Todd Hagen. Heading into the bottom of the third, NCCU led 5-0.
Savannah State turned the tide on the Eagles in the bottom of the third as the Tigers scored six runs to take a 6-5 lead on three hits and a couple of NCCU errors in the frame.
Sophomore Carter Williamson’s huge RBI double in the top of the fourth drove in Marrow to give Williamson 36 RBI on the year and tied the game at 6-6.
After a scoreless fifth for SSU, the Eagles retook the lead with a run in the sixth inning to grab a 7-6 advantage off the bat of Drayton who brought in Murphy when Hagen’s throw to first base slipped out of his hand and into the NCCU dugout.
NCCU added another run in the seventh to give the maroon and gray an 8-6 cushion, but the Tigers would not go away easily as Savannah State plated two runs in the bottom-half of the frame to knot the game once again at 8-8.
The turning point for the Eagles came in the top of the eighth inning with one out and Williamson at second base as junior Michael Romano (Spotsylvania, Va.) drilled an RBI double to put NCCU ahead for good at 9-8 as the first baseman beat his chest in celebration, sending a jolt of enthusiasm into the visiting dugout with his clutch hit.
Junior lefty Gavin Guarrera closed the door on SSU in the eighth as he worked a 1-2-3 frame thanks to solid Eagle defense and NCCU put the game away in the top of the ninth with three more insurance runs that was highlighted by back-to-back singles to give Marrow 35 RBI on the year and Williamson drove in two more runs on his base hit as he has amassed a team-high 38 RBI to plate the game’s final two runs and give the maroon and gray the 12-8 lead.
Guarrera shut down the Tigers in the bottom of the ninth to earn his third win of the season as he went two-and-two-thirds surrendering just one hit with one strikeout.
The Eagles recorded the second-most hits in a contest this season with 17 and four different student-athletes amassed at least three hits (Drayton 3-for-5, Marrow 3-for-6, Williamson, 3-for-5, Murphy 3-for-5).
Williamson led the NCCU offensive attack with two doubles, a run scored, and three RBI on the day. Marrow provided another offensive spark with two runs scored, and two RBI.
In the win, NCCU (14-30, 10-10 MEAC) has doubled its win total in head coach Jim Koerner’s first season at the helm, and is now one win away from clinching a berth in the 2012 MEAC Baseball Tournament.
The Eagles have the week off to prepare for the final series of the regular season against Florida A&M which is taking place May 5 and 6 at the historic Durham Athletic Park in Durham, N.C.
Stay up-to-date with North Carolina Central University Athletics by flying over to
www.NCCUEaglePride.com, the official website of NCCU Athletics.
