Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Box Scores:
Game 1 |
Game 2 DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University amassed 28 hits during a doubleheader sweep (13-10; 10-6) of Niagara University on Saturday inside the Durham Athletic Park.
In game one, NCCU rallied from a six-run deficit by plating six runs in the fourth inning to even the score. The host Eagles tallied six hits in the frame, topped by a two-run home run by senior first baseman
Christian Triplett.
Niagara responded with three runs in the fifth to regain the lead, but NCCU answered with a three-run towering blast by junior center fielder
Carlos Ortiz to knot the score again after five innings.
The visiting Purple Eagles took back the advantage with a run in the sixth, but NCCU struck again by piecing together four hits, including an RBI double by Triplett, for four runs to capture the lead for the first time in the contest.
Sophomore pitcher
Justice Sampson allowed just one hit with three strikeouts in 2.1 scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win, while senior closer
Andrew Vernon sealed the victory and earned the save by striking out three batters in the ninth inning.
Senior second baseman
Trevor Theissen and junior shortstop
Thomas Prospero recorded three hits each, while junior third baseman
Ellington Hopkins, senior catcher
James Dey and Triplett added two hits apiece.
In the nightcap, Niagara opened the game with two runs in the first inning, but NCCU posted three unearned runs to take a lead the home team would not relinquish. The host Eagles scored five runs in the second inning and two more in the third for a 10-2 cushion.
NCCU starting pitcher
Christian Gonnelli settled down after the first frame to toss five scoreless innings before surrendering two runs in the seventh and final inning. He finished the outing by allowing four runs on five hits with six strikeouts for the victory.
Hopkins, Theissen, Ortiz, junior right fielder
Zachary Marszal and sophomore designated hitter
John Ortiz all collected two hits, while Hopkins and Theissen each scored three times.
NCCU (3-3) and Niagara (1-6) conclude the four-game weekend series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Admission to the Durham Athletic Park is free.
N.C. Central 13, Niagara 10 (Feb 27, 2016 at Durham, N.C.) (
Game 1)
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Niagara............. 204 031 000 - 10 12 1 (1-5)
N.C. Central....... 000 634 00X - 13 15 1 (2-3)
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Pitchers: Niagara - Kolodziejski,Zachary; Bucci, Michael(5); Miller, Austin(6); McCuen, Matt(7)
and Brophy, Joel. N.C. Central - SWEET,Devin; FIGUEROA,Jonathan(4); CAIN,Grant(5);
SAMPSON,Justice(6); VERNON,Andrew(9) and DEY,James.
Win-SAMPSON,Justice(1-0) Save-VERNON,Andrew(1) Loss-Bucci, Michael(0-1) T-3:30 A-119
HR NIA - Fuhrman, Michael (1); Hackett, Taylor (1).
HR NCCUBB - ORTIZ,Carlos (1); TRIPLETT,Christian (1).
Weather: Sunny & Cool, 48 degrees
Bucci faced 3 batters in the 6th.
N.C. Central 10, Niagara 6 (Feb 27, 2016 at Durham, N.C.) (
Game 2)
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Niagara............. 200 000 4 - 6 6 7 (1-6)
N.C. Central....... 352 000 X - 10 13 2 (3-3)
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Pitchers: Niagara - Procopio, Daniel; Eckerson, Cody(2); Howard, Tyler(4); Rodgers, Greg(6) and
Seto, Geoff; Brophy, Joel. N.C. Central - GONNELLI,Christian; KOVALCIK,Carter(7); CAIN,Grant(7)
and KOVALCIK,Conrad.
Win-GONNELLI,Christian(1-0) Loss-Procopio, Daniel(0-1) T-2:55 A-83
HR NIA - Meisner, Mark (1).
Weather: Sunny, 52 degrees
GONNELLI,C. faced 2 batters in the 7th.
