Box Score Box Score DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University was just three outs away from a four-game weekend sweep over Niagara University. However, the visitors erased a two-run deficit by scoring four runs in the ninth inning, then got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the frame to escape Durham Athletic Park with a dramatic 12-11 victory on Sunday.
NCCU (3-4) jumped out to a 4-0 advantage at the end of three innings thanks to a pair of two-run home runs by sophomore left fielder
Bryant Battle and junior catcher
Conrad Kovalcik.
Niagara (2-6) tallied two runs in the top of the fourth to cut the margin in half, but NCCU junior center fielder
Carlos Ortiz hit a three-run bomb over the right field wall to increase the home team's cushion to 7-2 after four innings.
Niagara outscored the host Eagles 6-3 in the next four innings to set up the ninth-inning excitement.
The visiting Eagles plated four runs in the final frame with only one hit, as NCCU issued five walks and committed an error.
NCCU threatened in the bottom of the ninth, as junior third baseman
Ellington Hopkins recorded his third hit of the contest and later scored on a bases-loaded walk. The four-hour, 50-minute contest ended with NCCU stranding the bases loaded, finishing the day with 14 runners left on base.
Ortiz added a triple to his three-run home run for five RBI. Junior right fielder
Zachary Marszal added two hits and an RBI, while Battle finished with a pair of hits, as well.
NCCU returns to action on Tuesday against Appalachian State inside Durham Athletic Park at 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Niagara 12, N.C. Central 11 (Feb 28, 2016 at Durham, N.C.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Niagara............. 000 222 204 - 12 11 1 (2-6)
N.C. Central....... 022 310 201 - 11 12 6 (3-4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Niagara - Wilson, Robert; Manuela, Dienston(3); Miller, Austin(4); Stearns, Nigel(6);
McCuen, Matt(6); Bucci, Michael(8); Parranto, Jordan(9) and Brophy, Joel. N.C. Central -
DANDRIDGE,Alex; HINTON,Jamar(6); SAMPSON,Justice(6); CAIN,Grant(6); VERNON,Andrew(7);
KLINE,Patrick(9) and KOVALCIK,Conrad.
Win-Bucci, Michael(1-1) Save-Parranto, Jordan(1) Loss-VERNON,Andrew(0-1) T-4:50 A-203
HR NIA - Seto, Geoff.
HR NCCUBB - ORTIZ,Carlos; KOVALCIK,Conrad; BATTLE,Bryant.
Weather: Sunny, 63 degrees
