CLINTON, S.C. – The North Carolina Central University baseball teams scored three runs in the ninth inning, but the Eagles left the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base to fall one run short in its comeback attempt, as host Presbyterian College escaped with an 8-7 win Wednesday afternoon.
 
NCCU outhit PC, 12-9, but an early error that led to four unearned runs proved too costly for the visitors.
 
The Blue Hose won their sixth one-run game to move over .500 at 8-7. The Eagles had a five-game win streak come to an end to dip to 7-5 overall.
 
Presbyterian took advantage of a dropped fly ball to score its first four runs in the second and chase freshman Tyler Penner from the mound in his first collegiate start after just two innings. The error led to four unearned runs, including a three-run home run to left by sophomore Andrew Bladt.
 
After sophomore Mitch McCrary scored an unearned run for the Eagles in the third, NCCU was able to knot the score in the fifth with three doubles. Freshman Jake Raby led off with a double and later scored on a two-bagger by classmate Carter Williams. Fellow rookie Corey Joyce plated Williams with the third double of the frame and he scored on a base hit by senior Conrad Kovalcik to level the score at 4-all.
 
Presbyterian broke the deadlock with three runs in the sixth and then tacked on one important insurance run in the seventh to double up NCCU, 8-4. The Blue Hose ripped five of their nine hits in those two frames.
 
The Eagles attempted to rally and score the potential game-tying or go-ahead runs in their final at bat for the sixth time this season by sending nine batters to the plate in the ninth.
 
Senior Ellington Hopkins started the rally with a leadoff single and eventually scored on an RBI fielder's choice by Joyce. NCCU then inched to within one run on a run-producing single by McCrary and a bases-loaded walk drawn by junior Zach Michalski. With the bases still full and two outs, junior Andrew Valichka ripped a line drive, but his hot shot was that caught by the center fielder.
 
Freshman starter Eric Miles improved to 3-0 on his rookie season, tossing a quality start by allowing just three earned runs over six innings of work. NCCU used eight arms with junior reliever Marcus Washburn (0-1) suffering the loss with three runs given up in the sixth.
 
Williams, Joyce, Hopkins, Kovalcik and Holland all hit safely twice for the maroon and gray.
 
NCCU begins Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Southern Division play by hosting rival North Carolina A&T State University in a three-game series that has been moved up to Friday-Saturday, March 10-11 due to forecasted inclement weather for Durham on Sunday. Admission is free at the Durham Athletic Park (DAP).