DURHAM, N.C.  – After being on the road this past weekend, North Carolina Central University returns to the diamond on Wednesday afternoon as the Eagles welcome in the Trojans of Virginia State University for a midweek doubleheader beginning at 4:00 p.m. on April 2 at the Durham Athletic Park.
 
The maroon and gray are entering a crucial stretch of the year, with nine home games over the next two weeks that could see the Eagles boost themselves to the top of the MEAC's (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Southern Division with the league race so tight.
 
NCCU (9-17-1, 6-5 MEAC) owns a 12-2 lead in the series against Virginia State including wins for the Eagles in the last five meetings.  The maroon and gray swept last year's midweek twinbill 6-1, 5-2 and are looking to end a four-game skid heading into a huge week for the program.
 
Virginia State (17-11, 13-6 CIAA) just won two-of-three from league foe St. Augustine's and is led by dual threat Nicolas Christopher who bats .320 at-the-plate and holds a 3-0 record on-the-hill with a 1.69 ERA in 16.0 innings of work.  Not to be overshadowed, sophomore hurler Colton Gunn is 7-1 on the year with a 2.90 ERA in 49.2 innings pitched.
 
The Eagles are led by senior Tyson Simpson (Burgaw, N.C.) who is hitting a career-best .358 in his senior season with six doubles, a home run, and 21 RBI.
 
Head coach Jim Koerner will throw lefty Dylan Beiland (Hickory, N.C.) in the first game of Wednesday's twinbill.  Beiland has logged 23.1 innings in his rookie season and has recorded 10 K's on the year.  The game two starter has not been decided on at this point.
 
Fans can tune in beginning at 3:45 with the Denny's of Durham Pregame Show as play-by-play voice Chris Hooks will call the action from the DAP.  Follow @NCCUAthletics on Twitter and use the hashtag #NCCUBaseball to stay up on the latest of Wednesday's action.
 
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.