Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game One (HTML)     I     Game Two (HTML)

DURHAM, N.C.  – Behind clutch hitting, solid defense, and two solid pitching performances from the starters, North Carolina Central University took down arch-rival North Carolina A&T 5-3 in game one and earned the Eagles first shutout of the year in the 4-0 victory in game two on Saturday afternoon at the Durham Athletic Park.
 
In taking both games of the twinbill, NCCU (13-17-1, 8-5 MEAC) has won its third consecutive series over NC A&T in Durham and will go for the sweep on Sunday.
 
Game one saw the debut of Kyle Shields (Bailey, N.C.) as the starter and he did not disappoint. 
 
NC A&T scored the first run of the day off Luke Tendler's RBI single down the right field line, scoring leadoff batter Brandon Wilkerson, but the All-MEAC performer was gunned at second base which kept the explosive Aggies from having a big inning.
 
The maroon and gray responded thanks to senior Tyson Simpson's (Burgaw, N.C.) two out double following freshman Carlos Ortiz's (Cleveland, Ohio) walk as the Eagle offense got rolling.  After Carter Williamson (Roanoke, Va.) brought in Ortiz on a fielder's choice, sophomore James Dey (Charlotte, N.C.) ripped a two out single to drive in the next two runs and give NCCU a 3-0 lead.
 
A&T plated two runs in the third to knot the game at 3-3 as Shields walked two Aggie batters with one out.
 
Shields and the Eagle defense did not surrender another run in game one as the maroon and gray scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.  It all began on Dey's double to centerfield and ended on Ortiz's RBI single as NCCU took a 5-3 lead into the fifth inning.
 
In fact, Shields allowed only two more hits through his final four innings as sophomore closer Andrew Vernon (Raleigh, N.C.) came on in-relief in the ninth and earned the save as the Eagles took game one 5-3.
 
The final contest of the day was a pitcher's duel as senior righty Terry McNabb (Davidson, Sask.) and Charles Cantrell combined for 16 K's on the day, but McNabb put on the performance of the day.
 
After A&T went three-up-three-down in the top of the first, NCCU scored two runs to take a 2-0 lead off of three Eagle hits.  After Zack Lee (Wilson, N.C.) and Ortiz's singles, Williamson and sophomore Christian Triplett (Wilkesboro, N.C.) both recorded RBIs with Williamson's single and Triplett's sacrifice fly.
The Aggies did not record their first hit until the third inning on a Kyle Clary double, but McNabb shut the door by striking out Wilkerson to end the threat.  In fact, A&T got runners in scoring position only three times in the contest.
 
NCCU's final two runs of the day came in the bottom of the fourth when A&T's Cantrell fell apart as sophomore Kory Wood (Spring Lake, N.C.) reached base on a bunt single with two outs on the board.  Cantrell followed that up with a walk to Lee and then plunked the next three batters plating two runs and putting the maroon and gray up 4-0.
 
That's all McNabb needed in one of his finest outings in his Eagle career.  NCCU took game two 4-0 on-the-heels of McNabb's complete game shutout where he earned a career-high nine strikeouts in the win.  This also marked the first shutout of the year, and the first since a 10-0 win over Bethune-Cookman on Saturday, April 13, 2013.  The senior also allowed a career low three hits in the win.
 
NCCU (13-17-1, 8-5 MEAC) looks to earn its first ever sweep over NC A&T (11-20, 6-8 MEAC) in the modern era of the program in the series finale at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 6 at the Durham Athletic Park.
 
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.