Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
GAME 1: N.C. Central 4, UMES 3 (Box Score)
GAME 2: N.C. Central 7, UMES 1 (Box Score)

DURHAM, N.C. – Junior first baseman Christian Triplett ripped four hits including his first home run of the season in leading the North Carolina Central University baseball team to a 4-3 and 7-1 doubleheader sweep of visiting University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Wednesday at Durham Athletic Park.

NCCU extended its home win streak to five games and improved to 8-11 overall. UMES fell to 5-13 after losing the non-conference twin bill between two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference cross-divisional programs.

Triplett had a pair of base hits in both contest and finished with three RBI and three runs scored. The Wilkesboro, N.C., products big day included a double in the first game and his deep home run to right field in the nightcap.

Senior left fielder Eric Kimber was the only other Eagle with multiple hits with three base knocks in the opener. However, nine of NCCU's 10 batters on the day reached base with at least one hit or walk.

The first game started off as a pitcher's duel between NCCU freshman Jonathan Figueroa and UMES senior Chipper Smith as neither team got on the board until the fifth inning. However both starters had to settle for no decisions.

The Hawks got on the board first in the fifth but the Eagles soared ahead with two runs in the home half featuring a sacrifice fly by sophomore Carlos Ortiz and an RBI single by Kimber.

An unearned run extended the hosts advantage to 3-1 in the sixth before Maryland Eastern Shore was able to knot the score up by plating two runs in the seventh.

NCCU quickly regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh with Ortiz drawing a leadoff walk; advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Cory Williamson; trotting to third on Kimber's third base knock; and then scoring the game-winning run on a safety squeeze bunt by junior Trevor Theissen.

Senior Kyle Shields (1-1) picked up the win tossing 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and junior closer Andrew Vernon secured his second save of the season. Vernon gave up a leadoff single to start the ninth but then settled down with the potential tying run on base by retiring the next three Hawks.

A four-run first inning set the tone of the second game in favor of the Eagles. Ortiz and senior Ronald Thompson both had run-producing doubles and Triplett and senior Troy Marrow both singles and scored in the big frame.

UMES scored its only run on a solo homer by senior Greg Turlik, who drilled his second-inning blast over the centerfield fence.

Triplett followed suit with his two-run dinger to right in the third before Kimber drove in the Eagles final run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

Junior starter Cameron Scalzo (1-0) picked up his first win of the season allowing one run on just four hits while striking out four over his five innings of work.  

NCCU will be looking to build on its 6-2 home record this weekend when the Eagles host MEAC Southern Division rival Florida A&M University. The two programs are scheduled for a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday with first pitch slated for 1 p.m. both days.