Game One Box Score (HTML)        Game Two Box Score (HTML)


DURHAM, N.C. – With the doubleheader sweep of Longwood University, North Carolina Central University has set a new record in the modern era of the program as the Eagles have won nine consecutive ballgames for the first-time ever by taking game one 5-4, and game two 10-0 on Tuesday evening at the Durham Athletic Park.
 
NCCU’s previous streak took place in the program’s first season back after a 31-year hiatus when the maroon and gray won eight straight.
 
This marks the first-ever doubleheader sweep of the Lancers, who had only lost twice in 11 meetings to the host Eagles prior to Tuesday’s matchups.
 
Game one had fireworks early as Longwood’s Alex Owens took advantage of a 3-0 pitch from starter Jordan Quinn (Goldsboro, N.C.) that resulted in his fourth home run of the season to right field and gave the visiting Lancers the 1-0 lead.
 
NCCU battled back in the bottom-half of the first with one out when Zach Lee (Wilson, N.C.) recorded an infield hit, followed up by a Luis Diaz (Geneva, N.Y.) single to center field, which led to the first run of the frame off of junior Troy Marrow’s (Lutherville, Md.) single to tie the game at 1-1.  Junior designated hitter Carter Williamson (Roanoke, Va.) drove in Diaz on a flare just out of Owen’s reach to take a 2-1 lead, and junior Ryan Collins (Elizabethtown, N.C.) plated the final run of the frame on a sacrifice bunt to put the Eagles up 3-1 at the end of one inning.
 
Longwood added a run in the fifth on an Owen’s RBI single to make it 3-2, and the maroon and gray answered on Lee’s RBI single to drive in senior Akeem Hood (Raleigh, N.C.) to put the margin back at two at 4-2 after five complete.
 
After a Lancer run in the sixth and seventh to tie the score at 4-4, the Eagles made their move in the eighth frame with one out.  Marrow walked later advancing to third on Williamson’s seventh double of the year to put runners in scoring position.  After a Collins groundout, junior Ronald Thompson (Chadbourn, N.C.) loaded the bases on a walk, and backstop Robert Hiatt (Wilmington, N.C.) walked as well to plate the game winning run as NCCU held on for the 5-4 win.
 
Junior Jacob Russell (Winston-Salem, N.C.) earned the win to move to 3-1 on the year, while senior closer Gavin Guarrera registered his seventh consecutive save on the year.  In the win, Lee, Diaz, and Williamson all recorded two hits.
 
Game two saw the Eagles pounce on the Lancers from the get-go taking a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first as starter Blake Ream issued a leadoff single to Hood and then hit Lee, walked Diaz,  plunked Marrow to plate the first run.  After Williamson’s RBI single aided by a Brandon Delk throwing error scored Lee and Diaz gave the maroon and gray a 3-0 lead.  The highlight of the frame came off of Thompson’s hard line drive that hit the right field wall scoring the final two runs of the frame to give the host Eagles the five run advantage.
 
The final damage was done in the sixth inning when the maroon and gray recorded four straight hits on the way to plate the final five runs of the game, securing the 10-0 victory.
 
Senior righty Ruben Rios (Fortuna, Calif.) pitched one of the best ballgames of his NCCU career retiring 14 of his first 15 batters as he cruised to his first career complete game shutout.  Rios (1-0) scattered four hits in seven innings of work to earn the win.
 
In the win, Hood, Lee, and Diaz all recorded two hits as Thompson recorded four RBIs to lead the host Eagles.
 
Throughout the day, both Lee and Diaz both finished 4-for-7 with three runs scored, while Diaz recorded a double to lead NCCU.
 
Longwood (11-14, 3-3 Big South) had two players to thank for its four hits in game two as backstop Scott Burkett and right fielder Delk each recorded two hits apiece in the loss.
 
NCCU (18-9, 8-4 MEAC) has already tied the regular season win total from head coach Jim Koerner’s first season at the helm, and takes a ton of momentum into a two-game home-and-home non-conference series against East Carolina University beginning Friday, March 29 at 6:00 p.m. from Clark-LeClair Stadium in Greenville, N.C.
 
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.