Box Score
Box Score:  NCCU at B-CU


DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Perennial MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) power Bethune-Cookman University scored eight runs in a three inning span to pull away from North Carolina Central University to win the rubber match between the two 9-2 on Sunday afternoon at the Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Fla.
 
After NCCU left a runner stranded in the top of the first inning at second base, Bethune-Cookman’s Josh Johnson led off with a double advancing to third base on a single by center fielder Brandon Turner.  The Wildcats first run of the game came on a balk by senior lefty Michael Romano (Spotsylvania, Va.).
 
Trailing 1-0 after one complete, the Eagles struggled at-the-plate as Sunday starter Montana Durapau struck out six batters through the first three innings.
 
Bottom of the fourth, B-CU’s Eric Sams drilled a two-run bomb to left field putting the Wildcats up 3-0 adding another run on a Clay Middleton RBI single putting Bethune-Cookman up 4-0.
 
It took the visiting Eagles until the fifth inning to record their first hit when junior second baseman Spencer Franceschetti (Escalon, Calif.) drilled a double to left center field, later scoring on an RBI single by redshirt senior Akeem Hood (Raleigh, N.C.) to cut the deficit to 4-1.
 
B-CU (22-18, 12-6 MEAC) went on to score five runs in the next two innings to pull away for good and take the game and series 9-2.  In those frames, the Wildcats amassed nine hits and crushed two home runs to  
 
The Wildcats game three starter Durapau went 7.0 innings and tied a season-high with seven strikeouts, while Romano lasted 4.0 innings allowing eight hits and six earned runs.
 
Franceschetti led NCCU going 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, and a run scored.  The Eagles struck out 11 times in the loss.
 
NCCU (22-17, 10-8 MEAC) looks to get back on track with a couple of mid-week contests beginning with a Tuesday night home matchup against Campbell on April 16 at the Durham Athletic Park, and a Wednesday night road contest against High Point at Willard Stadium in High Point, N.C. at 6:00.
 
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.