Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 DURHAM, N.C. – Ronald Thompson (Chadbourn, N.C.) boosted North Carolina Central University into first place of the Southern Division of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference after a walk off 2-run blast to the roof of the warehouse in right field to lift the Eagles over Savannah State 7-5 in the 10th inning in game one of the doubleheader on Saturday, April 18 at the Durham Athletic Park.  The Tigers fought back to split the afternoon doubleheader with a 7-2 win over NCCU in game two.

The theatrics started early for NCCU (19-19, 12-7 MEAC) as Eagle starter Cameron Scalzo (Rochester, N.Y.) leapt off the mound in the second inning to field a bunt that was popped up, and while on his side threw down the first base line to complete an inning-ending double play in the top of the second.

Game one was scoreless until the third inning when SSU (15-23, 8-9 MEAC) got on the board with a two-out RBI single to go in front 1-0.  The Tigers threatened to put more runs on the board in the top of the fourth with runners on second and third with two outs. 

SSU attempted a suicide squeeze with two outs, however the bunt was missed and a heads up play from Conrad Kovalcik (Detroit, Mich.) was able to catch Brian Miller (Thomasville, Ga.) as he was heading back to third with the tag made by Eric Kimber (Greensboro, N.C.).

NCCU pulled even with SSU in the bottom of the fifth as Kovalcik led off with a double, before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt.  Kovalcik then took advantage of a wild pitch to touch home and make the score 1-1.

SSU see-sawed back into the lead in the top of the sixth after the Tigers put runners on first and second with one out.  A wild pitch Scalzo allowed a runner to advance to third to put men on the corners, and a potential inning-ending double play turned into a fielder's choice that allowed Miller to reach first and a run to score, putting the Tigers up again, 2-1.

Jacob Lightle (Savannah, Ga.) picked up an RBI single to stretch the lead to 3-1 for the Tigers, again putting runners on the corners.  Kyle Shields (Bailey, N.C.) took over on the mound from that point, and didn't have to do much work to get out of the inning.  SSU again tried to catch the Eagle defense sleeping on a delayed double steal, and Kovalcik again threw down the third base line to Kimber to catch Miller out away from the bag.

Carlos Ortiz (Cleveland, Ohio) stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the sixth and planted one over the wall in right field to bring a run back for NCCU, making the score 3-2 through six.  The Tigers responded with a homer of their own in the top of the seventh, a 2-run shot by way of Trey Sikes (Hinesville, Ga.) to keep SSU in front by a score 5-2.

The Eagles clawed their way back even with SSU in the bottom of the seventh in a wild inning.  Trevor Theissen (Franklin, Wisc.) picked up a one out single and moved to second after a fielding error that allowed Jacobi Harris (Pittsboro, N.C.) to reach.  Kimber then singled to load the bases, and that chased SSU starter Austin Denny (Springfield, Ga.) as he was replaced by Spencer Gillis (Springfield, Ga.) who had to take over in a tough situation.

Gillis was welcomed to the game by a 2-RBI single from Mitchell McCrary (Mills Creek, N.C.) that brought the Eagles back within striking distance at 5-4.  McCrary later stole second and a fielding error by the second baseman allowed the ball to get away, and Kimber came home to complete the comeback at five all through seven innings.

Blake Morgan (Durham, N.C.) took over in the eighth and tossed two perfect frames to keep NCCU in it, but the Eagles were unable to pick up a run through nine innings.
Morgan remained in for the 10th and gave up a one out single to Harrison Moore (Stone Mountain, Ga.) who finished game one with singles in three consecutive at bats, that allowed the go-ahead run to reach.

Ryan McCranie (Covington, Ga.) delivered what looked like would be an RBI double to put SSU in the lead, but McCrary tracked down the ball in the corner and relayed it to Kimber who threw home to Kovalcik to cut down Moore heading for the plate.  Morgan then capped the inning with a strikeout to the next batter to keep the score 5-5 going to the bottom of the 10th.

Ortiz started the bottom of the inning with a double and Thompson came up next and planted one on top of the warehouse for a walk off home run to take game one and move the Eagles into first place of the Southern Division after Bethune-Cookman was beaten by North Carolina A&T.

NCCU kept the momentum rolling in game two loading the bases before James Dey (Charlotte, N.C.) picked up an RBI by forcing a run home on a walk to lead 1-0 in the first.  That was all the Eagles would get, as they left the bases full in the bottom of the first.

SSU used a long third inning to jump in front, starting the inning with a single, and then a throwing error to first base that allowed the runner to advance to second.  Mendez Elder (Atlanta, Ga.) picked up an RBI double to draw level at 1-1.  Sikes singled to move runners to the corners before Zachary Brigham (Canton, Ga.) singled home Elder to move the Tigers into the lead 2-1.

Ortiz erased SSU's lead with a solo stinger to center field in the bottom of the third to make the score 2-2, but the Tigers catapulted back in front in the top of the fourth and held the led from there.

All three runs for SSU in the fourth came with two outs as a man reached on a fielding error and then a single put two men on for Elder.  Elder hit his second of double of the game, this time clearing the bases for 2 RBI.  Sikes followed with an RBI Single of his own to put the Tigers on top 5-2 through four innings.

That RBI single ended the afternoon for Alex Dandridge (Arlington, Texas) who pitched three and two-thirds of an inning, seeing five runs touch home but was only two of those runs were earned.

SSU tacked on two more runs before the end of the game, an RBI single from pinch hitter Devin Jackson (Columbus, Ga.) in the fifth inning, and a solo homer from Sikes, his second of the day in the sixth to finish the scoring with SSU in front 7-2.

Even though the Eagles dropped the second game of the doubleheader, they remained in first place after B-CU lost both games of the doubleheader with NC A&T.
NCCU will look to pad its position at the top of the division as they finish the series with SSU at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, April 19 at the Durham Athletic Park.  The game, originally scheduled for 1:00 p.m. was moved up due to forecasted inclement weather. Admission is free.

The game will be broadcasted live on the NCCU Sports Network, available at NCCUEaglePride.com, and live updates will be available on Twitter from the official account of NCCU Athletics, @NCCUAthletics.