Box Score BUIES CREEK, N.C. – North Carolina Central University used some timely hitting to put two runs on the board in three separate innings to take down Campbell University 6-3 on Wednesday, April 8. The win by the Eagles is their third in the last four meetings with the Camels, after opening the series with 14 consecutive losses.

The game at Jim Perry Stadium began following a recent trend for Eagle baseball games, no runs on the board through four complete innings as pitching and defense were the story early.

Sophomore catcher James Dey (Charlotte, N.C.) put the first hit on the board for NCCU (16-17) with a single in the bottom of the second, and Cory Williamson (Greensboro, N.C.) followed suit with a single of his own.  Jacobi Harris (Pittsboro, N.C.) earned a walk to load the bases, but a flyout allowed Campbell starter Matt Meyer (Palm Bay, Fla.) to tightrope out of the jam.

Meyer made his first collegiate start for Campbell (24-10) but saw it come to a close after that second inning of work as Sam Rector (Chandler, Ariz.) entered the game as the first of three from the bullpen for the Camels.

NCCU right hander Jonathan Figueroa (Chicago, Ill.) turned in a quality start on the mound, but navigated some rough waters in the process.  In the bottom of the second inning he found himself with runners on first and third with two outs after a hit batter, a sacrifice bunt and a walk issued. Campbell attempted a delayed double steal sending the runner at first early to distract the defense and allow the runner from third to score, but Figueroa threw to first to put the runner in a rundown and Christian Triplett (Wilkesboro, N.C.) alerted by the defense threw home and Dey applied the tag to end the inning.

Figueroa allowed his first hit of the evening to freshman catcher JD Andreessen (Depew, N.Y.) and would scatter five more hits through his time on the mound without running into much trouble until the bottom of the fifth.

The fifth inning saw the first runs go up on the board, but it was NCCU who scored first.  Trevor Theissen (Franklin, Wisc.) led off the inning with a single down the third baseline and was able to advance to second on a throwing error.  Eric Kimber (Greensboro, N.C.) came up for a sacrifice bunt attempt and after putting the ball in play Campbell threw to third to try and get the leading runner but Theissen slid in safely and Kimber reached first on a fielder's choice.  Kimber then stole second and was brought home along with Theissen on a 2-RBI single from Carlos Ortiz (Cleveland, Ohio) to put NCCU in front 2-0.

Campbell battled back in the bottom of the inning as Andreessen led off with a single and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on an RBI single from Cedric Mullins (Snellville, Ga.).  Mullins stole second and advanced to third on a single from Steven Leonard (Monument, Colo.) before racing home on a sacrifice fly from Seth LaRue (Evansville, Ind.) to tie the game at 2-2.  The Camels had been antsy on the bases all evening and Dey called for a pitchout at the plate at the moment when Leonard went to steal second.  Dey, one step ahead cut Leonard down at second to end the inning on a steal attempt for the second time in the game.

NCCU pulled the lead back in the sixth by way of a Mitchell McCrary (Mills Creek, N.C.) 2-RBI single that scored speedster Harris and Theissen to move the Eagles back up by two, 4-2.  Harris had an opportunity to flash not just his speed but his glove skills in the latter half of the inning with an extra-base-saving diving catch in right field to keep a runner on first.  That catch helped salvage the lead for
Figueroa who worked through that inning and finished his line with six complete innings thrown, with six hits allowed, two runs (both earned) and three walks along with two strikeouts.

Blake Morgan (Durham, N.C.) took over for two innings of relief work for NCCU, punching out three Camels to keep a two-run lead heading to the ninth inning, which turned into a wild ride.

Campbell left fielder Cole Hallum (Bakersfield, Calif.) journeyed to the mound for the ninth inning as he not only leads the team in homers with 10, he also leads the bullpen with saves with six.  It wasn't a save situation for him, though he entered to prevent NCCU from widening the lead before the Camels came up in the bottom of the ninth.

Ortiz led off the inning for the Eagles and reached on a fielding error by the second baseman and went to second on a wild pitch before Triplett stepped up with one out on the board.  Triplett delivered a massive double to the alley in right center on a 0-2 count that scored Ortiz to give NCCU some breathing room in the final inning.  Triplett advanced to third on a wild pitch before Williamson struck the final blow with a RBI single to right to bump the score to 6-2 heading to the bottom of the ninth.

Andrew Vernon (Raleigh, N.C.) entered for the ninth, also outside of a save situation and put two quick outs on the board looking to close out the game.  Vernon walked Mullins with two outs and he stole second before scoring on a single to left by Leonard, but Vernon closed the book with a strikeout on LaRue who watched strike three to end the game.

Figueroa was the pitcher of record for the first time this season, and he earned his first collegiate win to improve to 1-0 this season. Coley Thompkins (Wilmington, N.C.) was tabbed with the loss after giving up those two runs in the sixth, and his record drops to 3-2.

NCCU rolls to the weekend for a three-game series with Bethune-Cookman University at the Durham Athletic Park beginning with a doubleheader at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 11 at the Durham Athletic Park.  Admission is free.