Box Score DURHAM, N.C. – True freshman
Devin Sweet gave up a single to the first batter he saw Sunday, then allowed only one more hit as he led North Carolina Central University to a 7-0 shutout of Florida A&M to complete the three-game weekend sweep of the Rattlers at Durham Athletic Park.
Sweet (Greensboro, N.C.) went seven complete innings to pick up the victory (2-1), walking four and striking out six in his gem. He was helped by the Eagle offense, which picked up right where they left off following their doubleheader on Saturday.
Right fielder
Ronald Thompson (Chadborun, N.C.), who picked up three RBI while hitting 4-for-5 on Saturday, tacked on two more hits, plating
Eric Kimber (Greensboro, N.C.) on an RBI single in the first inning.
NCCU (11-11, 6-5 MEAC) really got rolling in the third when center fielder
Carlos Ortiz (Cleveland, Ohio) ripped an RBI single, before
Christian Triplett (Wilkesboro, N.C.) brought him and Thompson home on a three-run, opposite-field homer over the right field fence, putting the Eagles up 5-0 at that point.
The final runs of the afternoon came by way of Thompson, as he grooved a pitch off of the warehouse in right field on a two-run shot. Thompson finished his weekend going 6-for-8, with five singles and a homer, driving in six, while scoring four times himself. He was also patient at the plate, walking three times and striking out just once on a called strike three in the first game of the series.
FAMU (7-15, 4-5 MEAC) sent a slew of pitchers to the mound, seven in total over the course of the nine-inning contest. Kendal Weeks (Quincy, Fla.) was chased after just four innings, leaving a runner on first that was eventually added to his final line. Weeks was tagged for five hits and six runs (all earned), walking a pair and sending three down on strikes in the loss (2-2).
The Rattler bullpen was stretched to the limit in the seventh inning when head coach Jamey Shouppe pulled reliever Marcus Roberts (Waukeenah, Fla.) with two outs to set up a favorable pitching matchup, and ended up sending two to the mound to face just one batter, neither recording an out. It was the fourth pitcher of the inning who was finally able to record the third out, leaving the bases full for NCCU.
With the win, the Eagles have now won six consecutive games at the Durham Athletic Park, and now eight within the city of Durham stretching back to the doubleheader sweep over North Carolina A&T at Jack Coombs Field on March 2.
NCCU will look to stay hot Wednesday evening as the Eagles host Charleston Southern at the DAP, with first pitch slated for 6:00 p.m. Admission is free.
