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DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University baseball team returns to the diamond this weekend as the Eagles host the defending MEAC Champion Tigers of Savannah State University. The conference weekend begins with doubleheader action on Saturday, March 15 at 1:00 p.m. and concludes with the series finale on Sunday, March 16 at 1:00 p.m.
NCCU (5-11-1, 3-3 MEAC) enters the weekend following a disappointing doubleheader sweep at the hands of Coppin State on Tuesday afternoon. Prior to that, the maroon and gray pulled off quite possibly their biggest series win in the young program's history by taking two-of-three from perennial league power Bethune-Cookman.
Offensively, the Eagles are third in the MEAC batting .268 as a team, while senior Tyson Simpson (Burgaw, N.C.) is seventh in the league at-the-dish hitting .414 on the year. Simpson also leads the conference in hits with 24, fourth in RBIs with 13, along with senior shortstop Zack Lee (Wilson, N.C.), who is second in the conference with 23 hits. Lee also tops the league in runs scored with 21, while senior Carter Williamson (Roanoke, Va.) is No. 1 in the league with 21 RBIs on the year.
Savannah State (6-10, 0-3 MEAC) enters the weekend frey on a four-game losing streak and is led by Charles Sikes at-the-plate who is hitting .322 with one home run and 10 RBI to lead the Tiger attack.
Head Coach Jim Koerner will send sophomore Alex Dandridge to the hill in game one, as the righty has logged 20.0 innings on the year with eight strikeouts and eight walks.
Game two will see senior Terry McNabb (Davidson, Sask.) toe-the-rubber for the Eagles. McNabb (1-2, 3.86 ERA) has thrown 21.0 innings and has amassed 21 strikeouts, while issuing six walks.
Freshman lefty Andrew Wilson (Pilot Mountain, N.C.) will take the mound in the series finale on Sunday. Wilson (1-1, 5.14 ERA) earned his first collegiate victory last Sunday against Bethune-Cookman going 7.2 innings allowing only four runs in the first two innings against the mighty Wildcats.
The NCCU Sports Network will have full coverage of the weekend series as Mike Wood will call the action from the Durham Athletic Park beginning at 12:55 on both Saturday and Sunday.
