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MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Leading 7-5 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, Alabama State used a four run rally to take the lead over North Carolina Central University and held on for the 9-8 victory and the series sweep on Sunday at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex in Montgomery, Ala.
 
Alabama State (24-8, 12-1 SWAC) took a 5-0 lead in the first inning that began with three straight singles and a base clearing double by Waldyvan Estrada as the Hornets racked up six hits in the opening frame.
 
The cardiac Eagles did not back down, as freshman Bryant Battle (Greenville, N.C.) ripped the first of his two doubles on the day to left field scoring James Dey (Charlotte, N.C.) as NCCU scored three runs on two hits to make it 5-3 in favor of Alabama State.  The other hit in the frame was a second double by redshirt junior Eric Kimber (Greensboro, N.C.).
 
In the top of the sixth, the Eagles threw another haymaker at the Hornets taking their first lead of the day on a second three-run frame.  Kimber and freshman Jake Cagle both recorded RBI singles, but it was sophomore Kory Wood's (Spring Lake, N.C.) RBI ground out that gave the maroon and gray the lead at 6-5.
 
The Eagles made it 7-5 in the top of the seventh frame on Christian Triplett's (Wilkesboro, N.C.) RBI single that scored Tyson Simpson (Burgaw, N.C.) and gave the maroon and gray a two-run advantage.
 
NCCU (9-17-1, 6-5 MEAC) held that lead until the bottom of the eight when ASU scored four runs to take a 9-7 lead, Battle's second double of the day helped the Eagles cut the deficit to one at 9-8, but the maroon and gray fell short as the next two batters flew out and struck out as the Hornets held on for the win.
 
Four Eagles recorded two hits in the loss, while Battle, Triplett, and Kimber all recorded two RBI apiece.  The 11 hits for NCCU were the most since March 11 when the maroon and gray recorded 14 against Coppin State.
 
NCCU gets back to action on Wednesday, April 2 as the Trojans of Virginia State University come to the Bull City for a midweek doubleheader matchup between two old CIAA foes.  First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m. from the Durham Athletic Park.
 
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