Box Score
Box Score:  NCCU 7, Bethune-Cookman-4 (HTML)

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. – Trailing 4-0 in the sixth inning, the resilient Eagles of North Carolina Central University plated six runs in the frame, then used solid defense to pull the major upset over the perennial MEAC power, beating Bethune-Cookman 7-4 in the rubber match, winning the series two games to one on Sunday afternoon inside Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Fla.
 
The victory marks the first-ever series win for the Eagles over the Wildcats on the diamond as B-CU has held a commanding advantage over the since the maroon and gray joined the MEAC.
 
After a scoreless top of the first inning, Bethune-Cookman plated the first runs of the day with three runs on three hits, highlighted by an Eric Sams RBI double to left centerfield, to give the Wildcats the early 3-0 lead.
 
B-CU took a 4-0 lead in the second inning on a leadoff triple down the leftfield line by Zach Olszewski, who later scored on a wild pitch.
 
After two innings, B-CU led NCCU 4-0, and already had amassed four hits on the day.  From that point forward freshman lefty Andrew Wilson (Pilot Mountain, N.C.) settled in and shut down the vaunted Wildcat lineup as he allowed just two more throughout the rest of his outing.
 
Heading into the sixth inning, the maroon and gray offensive attack had recorded one hit, but the Eagles came alive in that frame to the tune of six runs on five hits aided along by two Wildcat errors.  Senior Carter Williamson's (Roanoke, Va.) double to right center field, drove in two runs, while freshman leftfielder Bryant Battle (Greenville, N.C.) ripped a triple to centerfield as NCCU snatched a 6-4 advantage over B-CU heading into the bottom of the sixth.
 
After a 1-2-3 Wildcat sixth frame, senior Tyson Simpson's (Burgaw, N.C.) sacrifice fly added another run on the manual scoreboard at the Jack and put the maroon and gray up 7-4.
 
NCCU's solid defense along with Wilson and sophomore Andrew Vernon's (Raleigh, N.C.) solid pitching was all the Eagles needed to hang on for the 7-4 win to clinch the series.
 
Wilson (1-1) earned his first collegiate victory and he did in impressive fashion, surrendering four runs on six hits in 7.2 innings, most of which came in the first two innings as he finished with two strikeouts.  Vernon earned his first save of the year going 1.1 innings with two strikeouts.
 
Battle was the lone Eagle to record multiple hits going 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI, while both Simpson and Williamson recorded two RBI apiece in the win.
 
NCCU (5-9-1, 3-3 MEAC) will look to added to its current two-game winning streak on Wednesday, March 12 beginning at 2:00 p.m. as the Eagles battle Coppin State on the road in doubleheader action from Joe Cannon Stadium in Hanover, Md.
 
Visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com or download the NCCU Sports Network app available in the App Store, Google Play and Amazon for the latest on NCCU Athletics.