DURHAM, N.C. - It took a late two-run home run from James Dey (Charlotte, N.C.) but North Carolina Central University was able to pick up the doubleheader sweep over Savannah State University by the scores of 9-5 and 2-1 on Friday, March 25 at the Durham Athletic Park.

Dey homered in game two of the doubleheader and Thomas Prospero (Batavia, N.Y.) launched one over the left field wall in game one, and now NCCU (12-12, 5-3 MEAC) has gone yard in five-straight game stretching back to the doubleheader with Bethune-Cookman on Saturday, March 19.

Alex Dandridge (Arlington, Texas) got the start for the first game of the day, and was able to keep SSU (6-18, 1-4 MEAC) out of the run column for the first five frames. While he worked on the mound, the Eagle hitters were able to put crooked numbers on the scoreboard starting with a two-run blast by Prospero in the third inning to give the home team a 2-0 advantage.

The Eagles really broke the game open in the fifth frame as they batted around for six runs. The majority of those runs came in a four-batter string with four consecutive hits including a two-RBI triple from Carlos Ortiz (Cleveland, Ohio).

SSU pulled a run back with a solo shot from Mendez Elder (Atlanta, Ga.) in the top of the seventh, but the Eagles took that run back with an RBI single from Christian Triplett (Wilkesboro, N.C.) to carry a 9-1 lead into the eighth inning.

The Tigers wouldn't go down without a fight as they ripped back-to-back homers coming on a three-run blast from Jonathan Moore (Cairo, Ga.), and Trey Sikes (Hinesville, Ga.) powered the next pitch out of the park as well.

Dey made his first appearance of the afternoon as a reliever for the Eagles as he checked in for the final out of the eighth inning. He was efficient from the bullpen as he pitched an inning and one-third with two strikeouts without allowing a single baserunner to help NCCU secure the game one win.

Following the doubleheader trend that NCCU has seen all year long with high scoring in the first game, and low scoring in the second.

Cameron Scalzo (Rochester, N.Y.) set down the first seven batters he saw in order, and wouldn't give up a run until the fifth inning. The Tigers finally clawed a run across with a sacrifice fly from Jacob Lightle (Savannah, Ga.) to lead 1-0 going to the bottom of the frame.

Dey slammed the Eagles back in front with a two-run homer to the roof of the warehouse in right field in the bottom of the fifth and NCCU took that 2-1 lead to the sixth.

Scalzo was able to carry that lead into the seventh inning, but worked into a bit of trouble and the bullpen was called into action again. Justice Sampson (Lumberton, N.C.) had his number called with two runners on and two outs, and used just four strikes to get the clinching strikeout and his third save of the year.

The Eagles will look to pick up the series sweep on Saturday, March 26 at 1:00 p.m. at the Durham Athletic Park, and admission is free. The game will also be carried live on the NCCU Sports Network available at NCCUEaglePride.com and there will also be live Twitter updates from the official account of NCCU Athletics, @NCCUAthletics.

For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.