FARMVILLE, Va. – North Carolina Central University struck for five runs in the second inning to break a four-game losing streak in a 7-4 win over Longwood University at Bolding Stadium on Tuesday, April 5.
After seeing the opposition jump on the board with a big number early, NCCU (14-17) got back to being the club in the driver's seat after posting five runs in the second inning to take a 5-0 lead.
The Eagles batted around in that frame and
John Ortiz (Fayetteville, N.C.) started the scoring with a two-RBI single on a chopper that bounced over the third baseman all the way to the left field corner.
Sisqo Scott (Hampton, Va.) stepped up next and delivered his first career RBI hit on a flare to right field.
NCCU was able to load the bases but two pickoffs from Ryan Jones (Fredericksburg, Va.) was able to generate two-straight pickoffs for Longwood (18-12) to limit the damage.
After the Lancers added a run of their own in the bottom of the second, the Eagles stretched out the lead with two more in the top of the fourth.
Carlos Ortiz (Cleveland, Ohio) hit a grounder to the second baseman, and
Thomas Prospero (Batavia, N.Y.) was able to beat the throw home. After the throw missed the plate,
James Dey (Charlotte, N.C.) was able to follow him in from second on a throwing error from the second baseman to give NCCU a 7-1 lead.
The Lancers hit back immediately in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out two-RBI single from C.J. Roth (Yorktown, Va.) that he tried to stretch into a double, but
Jacobi Harris (Pittsboro, N.C.) threw a strike from left field to Scott to apply the tag to Roth still standing to end the inning.
Longwood got one more run on the board after Michael Osinski (Vestal, N.Y.) was able to leg out an infield single in the bottom of the seventh to set up a save situation for Dey.
Dey pitched two and two-thirds of an inning without giving up a hit, and allowed just two walks with three strikeouts to allow
Justice Sampson (Lumberton, N.C.) to come in for the final out. Sampson needed just four pitches to entice a ground ball back to the mound, and he picked up his fourth save of the season.
The Eagles return home to the Durham Athletic Park on Wednesday, April 6 to take on Virginia State University, and that game will be carried live on the NCCU Sports Network. Live Twitter updates can also be found by following @NCCUAthletics.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
