Box Score
Coppin State at NCCU Box Score (HTML)


DURHAM, N.C. – With Zack Lee (Wilson, N.C.) on first base and North Carolina Central University trailing Coppin State 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning, senior Luis Diaz (Geneva, N.Y.) ripped a line drive down the right field line leading to a standup triple which helped propel the host Eagles to the 2-1 win on Wednesday afternoon at the Durham Athletic Park.
 
NCCU earned its fourth straight win despite leaving 13 runners stranded in the contest, and it began in the bottom of the first when the maroon and gray loaded the bases with one out, when junior Tyson Simpson (Burgaw, N.C.) grounded into 1-2-3 inning ending double play.
 
In the second inning, the Eagles put runners on first and second with two outs and could not drive in a run as the game remained scoreless.
 
Through the first four frames, NCCU left nine runners stranded, but Coppin State scored the first run of the game in the top of the fourth on a passed ball that was set up by a Jack Kraft single.
 
CSU starter Yahya Muhammad kept the host Eagles’ bats quiet retiring the middle of the NCCU order in the fifth, and shutting down another bases loaded threat in the sixth to keep the visiting Eagles ahead.
 
After Diaz’s second triple of the season that tied the game at 1-1 in the seventh, junior Carter Williamson (Roanoke, Va.) came on to pinch-hit and recorded RBI No. 14 on the year with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Diaz to put the maroon and gray ahead 2-1 after seven complete.
 
With the lead in-tow, junior righty Jacob Russell (Winston-Salem, N.C.) came on in-relief in the eighth inning and retired CSU in order, setting up senior closer Gavin Guarrera (Webster, N.Y.) to take the hill in the ninth.
 
Guarrera struck out three of the four CSU batters in faced in earning his fourth save of the year, as Russell (1-1) earned his first victory of the season.
 
CSU (5-14, 2-1 MEAC) left 10 runners stranded themselves as the NCCU pitching staff combined to allow three hits in the win.
 
NCCU (13-9, 5-4 MEAC) managed just five hits in the win, but the defense continued to make plays including a 6-4-3 twin killing in the top of the seventh.
 
The Eagles look to another crucial home MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) series coming up on Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23 against Florida A&M.  Stay tuned for schedule updates as the times for the weekend are subject to change.
 
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