DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University put seven runs on the board in the first three frames on the way to its first win over UNC Wilmington in the modern era with an 8-6 victory to even the weekend series on Saturday, April 8 at the Durham Athletic Park.
 
This is the ninth time NCCU (16-16) and UNCW (12-17) have met since the Eagle baseball program resumed play in 2007.
 
Zach Michalski (Belews Creek, N.C.) jump started the maroon and gray with a leadoff solo blast to left field in the bottom of the second, and that spurred a four-run inning.  The first five batters all reached following the homer with three singles and a double.  Andrew Valichka (Pedricktown, N.J.), Carter Williams (Brown Summit, N.C.) and Evan Holland (Erial, N.J.) all notched RBI in the inning along with Michalski.
 
NCCU sent nine men to the plate in the second, and then eight in the third as Williams got his second RBI on an infield single and Dominic Cuevas (Gurnee, Ill.) knocked a 2-RBI double as the next man up.
 
Defensively, Jonathan Figueroa (Chicago, Ill.) started the game by setting down the first six Seahawks in order, striking out four in the first two innings.
 
UNCW steadily worked its way back into the game by scoring two on a single in the third, and then another two on a home run from Riley Zayicek (Mooresville, N.C.) slim the lead to 7-4.  Brian Mims (Montclair, Va.) pulled UNCW within two on a double in the seventh to make the score 7-5.
 
After the late run scored by UNCW, the Eagles took advantage of two defensive miscues to score an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh to help give Justice Sampson (Lumberton, N.C.) breathing room for him to lock up his second save of the year.
 
Sampson pitched 2.2 innings and struck out three to help the Eagles level the series at one game apiece.
 
The deciding game will be on Sunday, April 9 at the DAP with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m.  Admission is free.