Box Score

NCCU vs. Delaware State Final Box Score (HTML)

NORFOLK, VA. – In North Carolina Central University’s second loser’s bracket game in as many nights, the Hornets of Delaware State University used two big innings to pull away for the 16-2 victory on Friday night eliminating the Eagles from the 2012 MEAC Baseball Championships at Marty Miller Park in Norfolk, Va.
 
NCCU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when both Dylan Drayton (Raleigh, N.C.) and Tyson Simpson (Burgaw, N.C.) singled to begin the contest, later scoring on Troy Marrow’s RBI groundout.
 
Sam Fulmer’s (Raleigh, N.C.) pick-off of DSU’s Troy Drummond highlighted a scoreless first inning for the Hornets, but the No. 1 seed from the Northern Division tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning on a Tony Gatto RBI single, scoring first-team All-MEAC catcher Eddie Sorondo.
 
The Eagles had their offensive threat ended in the third frame when Luis Diaz (Geneva, N.Y.) was thrown out at third base on a Marrow single to right field.
 
That was all the momentum that Delaware State needed as All-MEAC third baseman Cameron Cecil and the conference’s player of the year Ryan Haas both singled to start off the bottom of the third, which was followed up by a two-run double by Sorondo to give DSU the 3-1.  NCCU’s Michael Romano minimized the damage by turning a 3-6-3 double play to squelch the Hornet rally in the frame.
 
After a scoreless fourth for the Eagles, the Hornets turned it up to the tune of six runs on six hits aided by an NCCU error to spread the margin to 9-1.  The turning point of the frame came with two outs and the bases loaded as Haas drilled a three-run double down the left field line to clear the bases.
 
Tyler Murphy’s (Islip, N.Y.) RBI single in the top of the sixth inning cut the deficit to seven at 9-2 to give the freshman 12 RBI in his rookie season.
 
DSU put the Eagles away for good in the bottom of the sixth with seven runs making it 16-2 as the contest ended after the seventh due to the MEAC’s 10-run rule.
 
Fulmer (4-4) took the loss for the Eagles lasting just three-and-one thirds of an inning allowing seven hits and three earned runs with three walks issued.
 
Zach Adkins (8-1) threw a complete game allowing only four hits and one earned run with five walks and three strikeouts.
 
NCCU (19-32, 13-10 MEAC) ends the 2012 season with three more wins than the previous three years combined.
 
Under first year head coach Jim Koerner, the Eagle baseball program made tremendous strides.  Since March 27, NCCU’s record was 15-10 with a 10-4 mark in conference play.
 
Stay up-to-date with North Carolina Central University Athletics by flying over to www.NCCUEaglePride.com, the official website of NCCU Athletics.