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SAVANNAH, GA. – A five-run seventh inning proved to be the difference in the ballgames as North Carolina Central University outdueled Savannah State University 7-4 to earn the program’s first-ever road series victory over the Tigers during the modern era on Sunday afternoon at Tiger Baseball Field in Savannah, Ga.
 
The rubber match between these two teams saw SSU strike first with a Parker Nix single drove in Joseph McCrary and Kevin Herilhy to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
 
The host Tigers added another run in the fourth frame to take a 3-0 lead, and the Eagles responded in the top of the fifth with two runs of their own to cut the margin to 3-2.
 
In that frame, a Luis Diaz (Geneva, N.Y.) single to centerfield drove in Tyson Simpson (Burgaw, N.C.) and Christian Triplett (Wilkesboro, N.C.).  Triplett led off the frame with a double to get the NCCU bats going.
 
The final knockout punch of the series came from the maroon and gray in the top of the seventh as NCCU plated five runs on three hits to take a 7-3 lead.  After a Diaz leadoff walk and an intentional walk to Carter Williamson (Roanoke, Va.), junior Dylan Drayton (Raleigh, N.C.) singled to load the bases with one out.  That’s when Spencer Franceschetti (Escalon, Calif.) drilled a single to centerfield to drive in three runs and give the Eagles their first lead of the day, one that NCCU never relinquished.  Zach Lee’s (Wilson, N.C.) single to leftfield drove in the final two runs of the frame.
 
SSU managed to plate one run in the eighth but senior closer Gavin Guarrera (Webster, N.Y.) came on and closed the door on the Tigers to earn his third save of the year as the maroon and gray clinched the series with a 7-4 win.
 
Junior righty Terry McNabb (Davidson, Sask.) put together another strong performance on the mound going 8.0 innings allowing on eight hits with three earned runs with three strikeouts to move to 3-2 on the year.
 
Offensively, Franceschetti recorded three RBIs, while Diaz and Lee both amassed two in the win, while Drayton continued his hot week at-the-plate going 3-for-5 with a run scored.
 
SSU (13-7, 3-3 MEAC) was led by Nix who was 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored in the loss.
 
NCCU (11-9, 5-4 MEAC) looks to extend the two game winning streak as the Eagles host Coppin State University in non-conference action on Tuesday, March 19 at 6:00 p.m. and Wednesday, March 20 at 3:00 p.m.  Both contests will take place at the Durham Athletic Park.
 
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.