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DURHAM, N.C. – Leading 2-1 with two men on and two outs in the bottom of the eighth, redshirt junior Eric Kimber's (Greensboro, N.C.) double down the leftfield line gave North Carolina Central University the cushion it needed to beat Presbyterian College for the first-time in the modern era of the program with the 4-2 victory on Tuesday evening at the Durham Athletic Park.
 
The Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the first inning after both Tyson Simpson (Burgaw, N.C.) and Christian Triplett (Wilkesboro, N.C.) ripped RBI singles to get the maroon and gray out in front.
 
After giving up one hit in the top of the first and shutting down a bases loaded threat from PC, junior righty Grant Cain (Fayetteville, N.C.) put on a stellar performance on-the-hill scattering five hits in his 8.0 innings of work.
 
PC finally got on the board in the top of the fourth inning after an Eagle error put Brandon Paul on base to start the frame as Jacob Midkiff brought him around on his RBI single to cut the margin to 2-1.
 
Neither team could make the best of golden opportunities as they each left runners on base throughout the game that included a leadoff double by sophomore James Dey (Charlotte, N.C.) in the bottom of the fourth.
 
After Cain gave up his only run in the fourth, he retired 10-of-the-next-12 batters in the game to keep the maroon and gray ahead.
 
It was in the bottom of the eighth after a Carter Williamson (Roanoke, Va.) leadoff walk when Kimber's crucial double put the advantage to 4-1 scoring pinch runner Jacobi Harris (Pittsboro, N.C.) and Cory Williamson (Greensboro, N.C.).
 
PC did not go away easily as the Blue Hose plated one run in the ninth on Midkiff's second RBI single of the night, but sophomore Andrew Vernon (Raleigh, N.C.) along with the solid Eagle defense held off a bases loaded threat for the 4-2 win.
 
NCCU (18-29-1, 12-10 MEAC) had not won in the previous 11 contests including a 8-8 tie that occurred back on Feb. 19.  The Eagles were held to five hits on the night in the win as the maroon and gray finished the home slate 13-10 on the year.  This marks the second straight season in which head coach Jim Koerner and his squad earned a winning record at the DAP.
Cain (1-0) earned his first NCCU win and recorded a career-high six K's in the victory, while Vernon recorded his team-best sixth save of the year.
 
The Eagles hit the road for two conference matchups beginning with Friday, May 9 at Savannah State at 2:00 p.m. at Tiger Baseball Field in Savannah, Ga., followed up with the resumption of NCCU and Florida A&M on Saturday, May 10 at 2:00 p.m. at Moore-Kittles Field.
 
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