Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Game One Box Score (HTML)


Game Two Box Score (HTML)


SAVANNAH, GA. – After dropping the first game 8-5, North Carolina Central University quickly moved on and returned the favor to the tune of 14-0 in game two against Savannah State University in seven innings to earn the split in the doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Tiger Baseball Field in Savannah, Ga.
 
The first game of Saturday’s twinbill saw the host Tigers draw first blood when an Eagle error allowing SSU’s Todd Hagen to reach base as he was later driven in on Joseph McCrary’s double to left field plating the first run, which was followed up by a Parker Nix single to right field putting Savannah State up 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
 
SSU made it 3-0 in the fourth frame on catcher Chris Arnold’s single to left field which drove in Nix, but the Eagles minimized by turning a 1-6-3 double play to end the threat in the fourth.
 
NCCU finally got on the board in the top of the seventh innings when junior Troy Marrow (Lutherville, Md.) drilled a double down the left field, which was followed up by the first of two Carter Williamson (Roanoke, Va.) doubles on the day to plate the first maroon and gray run of the afternoon to make it 3-1.  Dylan Drayton (Raleigh, N.C.) kept the momentum going with a single to centerfield and Spencer Franceschetti (Escalon, Calif.) ripped a two-out, two RBI double to left field to tie the game a 3-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh.
 
That’s when SSU exploded for five runs on five hits in the bottom-half of the seventh to take an 8-3 lead as Hagen’s double to left centerfield highlighted the inning by driving in two runs.
 
The Eagles managed to score two more runs in the ninth but it wasn’t enough as Savannah State held on for the 8-5 win.
 
Game two was a totally different story for NCCU as the maroon and gray led 1-0 after the first and threw the knockout blow in the second frame as the Eagles scored six runs on just three hits, highlights by a two RBI single by Williamson, and a Christian Triplett (Wilkesboro, N.C.) three RBI double down the left field line to give head coach Jim Koerner’s squad a 7-0 lead heading into the bottom of the second.
 
After two runs in the fifth that put the Eagles up 9-0, NCCU added five more runs in the top of the sixth after Lee, Luis Diaz (Geneva, N.Y.), and Marrow led off the inning with three straight walks.  That’s when Williamson drilled his second double of the day to right field to put the Eagles up 11-0.  From that point on the maroon and gray cruised to the 14-0 victory to earn the split.
 
NCCU (10-9, 4-4) was led by Williamson’s 4-for-7 effort at-the-plate with two doubles, three runs scored and five RBIs.  Franceschetti also had a good day at-the-dish going 3-for-6 with a double, two runs scored, and four RBIs.
 
Senior righty Glenn Frye (Lillington, N.C.) threw a complete game shutout to earn the victory adding two K’s to give him 177 career strikeouts.
 
SSU (13-6, 3-2 MEAC) only managed six hits in game two which sets up Sunday’s rubber match which is slated for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch from Tiger Baseball Field.
 
For more information about NCCU athletics, visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com or download the NCCU Sports Network app available in the App Store, Google Play and Amazon.