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DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University returns to the diamond on Friday afternoon as the Eagles battle the Purple Eagles of Niagara University in a four-game series beginning on Friday, Feb. 21 at 4:00 p.m. and ending on Sunday, Feb. 23 at the Durham Athletic Park.
 
NCCU (0-1-1) is coming off a disheartening 8-8 tie against Presbyterian College on Wednesday afternoon at the PC Baseball Complex in Clinton, S.C.
 
Niagara (0-3) is coming off a series sweep at the hands of No. 5 Florida State where the Purple Eagles held the Seminoles scoreless in 13 of the 24 innings.
 
Offensively for the Eagles there have been a few surprises as senior Tyson Simpson (Burgaw, N.C.) leads the team batting .750 on the year, 6-for-8 at-the-dish.  Simpson is aided by freshman Carlos Ortiz (Cleveland, Ohio) who is batting 5-for-10 with a home run, two RBI, and four runs scored for the maroon and gray.
 
Game one of the series will see senior righty Terry McNabb (Davidson, Sask.) who worked three complete innings of no-hit ball in the opener against Canisius, striking out four batters and walking just two. 
 
The Purple Eagles will send junior right hander Jordan Schwartz (0-1, 7.94 ERA) who threw 5.2 innings allowing five earned runs on nine hits against mighty Noles.
 
In game two which is slated for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch on Saturday, NCCU head baseball coach Jim Koerner will start sophomore Andrew Vernon (Raleigh, N.C.)  in his first start of his career.  Vernon (0-1, 10.80 ERA) took the loss against Canisius and pitched just 1.2 innings and allowed two earned runs in the outing in the 15-7 loss to the Golden Griffins.
 
Sixth year head coach Rob McCoy has lefty Cody Eckerson (0-0, 54.00 ERA) slated to start for the second game of the series.  Eckerson lasted two-thirds of an inning in two appearances against No. 5 Florida State giving up four runs on four hits.
 
The second game of Saturday doubleheader will begin 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first contest, and while the maroon and gray have yet to name a starter, Niagara has righty Liam Stroud (0-1, 14.54 ERA) slated to toe the rubber for the Purple Eagles.  Stroud threw 4.1 innings against the Noles in his only appearance, surrendering seven runs on six hits against the national power.
 
The fourth and final game of the series will see junior righty Alex Dandridge (Arlington, Texas) take the mound for the second time this week.  Dandridge (0-0. 0.00 ERA) also worked three innings in his Eagle debut, allowing no earned runs on four hits.  He left the game with the Eagles up 3-2.
 
Niagara will have redshirt senior righty Drew Fittry (0-1, 3.38 ERA) on-the-hill for Sunday's series finale.  Fittry threw 5.1 innings of no-hit baseball against the Noles before giving up two runs.
 
The NCCU Sports Network will have live coverage of the entire series as Mike Wood will be on the call all the way through the series. 
 
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