Box Score
Florida A&M vs. NCCU Box Score (HTML)        AUDIO:  Final Sequence of the 9th inning vs. Florida A&M

VIDEO:  Troy Marrow's Game-Winning RBI in the 9th vs. Florida A&M

DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University junior Troy Marrow’s (Lutherville, Md.) RBI single to left field drove-in senior Luis Diaz (Geneva, N.Y.) from second base in the bottom of the ninth as the Eagles earned the series with the 5-4 victory over the Rattlers from Florida A&M University.
 
With the win the maroon and gray extend their current winning streak to seven games, one short of tying the modern era record in 2007 of eight games in-a-row.  Also, the Eagles have beat Florida A&M nine straight times dating back to last season.
 
The Rattlers drew first blood in the final game of the weekend set when outfield Jared Walker reached on an infield hit to begin the ballgame, advancing on a Carter Williamson (Roanoke, Va.) throwing error and scoring on a Terry McNabb (Davidson, Sask.) wild pitch allowed Walker to score to give FAMU a 1-0 lead.
 
NCCU responded in the bottom of the first with a rally of their own thanks to an Akeem Hood (Raleigh, N.C.) single to left field, which was followed up by Diaz’s fifth double of the year scoring Hood and tying the game at 1-1.  After Marrow reached on a throwing error by FAMU’s shortstop Kendal Weeks, Williamson helped load the bases on an infield hit down the third base line.  Junior second baseman helped plate the final two runs of the frame on two-RBI single up the middle to put the maroon and gray ahead 3-1. 
 
In the top of the second Florida A&M got some help from some costly NCCU miscues that was highlighted by Bryce Farrar’s double down the left field line that scored catcher Garrett Johnson and Weeks to tie the game at 3-3.
 
The bottom-half of the second saw NCCU put runners on second and third with one out only to see the next two batters falter leaving two runners stranded  in the frame.
 
FAMU took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth on a two-out RBI single by Walker driving-in Johnson and put the Rattlers out in front. 
 
NCCU left two more runners stranded in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth after junior Ryan Collins (Elizabethtown, N.C.) ripped his double of the year down the right field line. 
 
Both offenses were shut down until the bottom of the seventh inning when Williamson crushed a double down the right field line scoring Diaz and tying the game at 4-4.
 
After issuing a walk to start the eighth to Bennie Robinson, the Eagle defense stepped up and turned double play No. 22 on the year, then followed that up with McNabb’s eighth strikeout of the day to end the Rattler threat. 
 
Junior reliever Jacob Russell (Winston-Salem, N.C.) was inserted into the ballgame in the top of the ninth mowed down the first batter and recorded a groundout and a fly out to keep FAMU off the board to set the stage for the dramatic ending.
 
Diaz started the bottom-half of the ninth with his sixth double of the year off the wall in right field with one out on the board, which gave Marrow the chance to win the game with his RBI single.
 
Russell (2-1) earned the win with his one solid inning off work, while Brandon Fleming (0-1) took the loss for Florida A&M.
 
FAMU (1-24, 1-8 MEAC) was led by Walker’s 2-for-4 effort at the dish with a run scored and an RBI, while Farrar went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs in defeat.
 
NCCU (16-9, 8-4 MEAC) was led by the trio of Diaz (2-for-4 with two doubles, three runs scored, and an RBI), Marrow (2-for-5 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI), and Williamson (2-for-4 with a double and an RBI)  who combined for six hits, and four of the five doubles on the day.
 
Despite earning the no decision, McNabb allowed only five hits, surrendered no earned runs, and recorded a season-high eight strikeouts.
 
The Eagles will get back to action at the Durham Athletic Park on Tuesday, March 26 with a doubleheader slated to begin at 4:00 p.m. against Longwood University.
 
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.