TALLAHASSEE. Fla. – North Carolina Central University got rolling early as it scored nine unanswered runs on its way to a 14-7 win to take the weekend and season series over Florida A&M on Sunday, May 7 at Moore-Kittles Field.
NCCU (22-27, 12-11 MEAC) was in complete control in the early scoring the first nine runs of the game unanswered over six innings.
Ellington Hopkins (Lansing, N.Y.) put the first run on the board in the first inning on an RBI single, and then the Eagles put two more on the board in the second inning on a pair of errors.
The Eagles put a big number on the board in the top of the fourth, when Hopkins crushed a three-run homer to extend NCCU's lead to 6-0. The final three runs of the streak came in the top of the sixth, on a two-run single from
Jake Raby (Granite Falls, N.C.) and a sacrifice fly from
Andrew Valichka (Pedricktown, N.J.).
Hopkins had a giant game for the Eagles, going 4-for-5 with a home run, four RBI and three runs. Raby also had a three RBI game after adding a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth.
Landon Fraley (Albemarle, N.C.) got the start for the maroon and gray, and he worked through the first two frames unscathed in less than 20 pitches. FAMU (24-23, 12-9 MEAC) did break through for a hit in the bottom of the third, but Fraley rolled up a double play to get through the third still facing the minimum.
Fraley pitched five full innings without allowing a run, and just four hits with four strikeouts.
The Rattlers were able to get onto the board in the later frames of the game, with a three-run eighth inning marked by a two-run single from Brian Davis (Pensacola, Fla.).
The Eagles saved their best for last, as they scored four in the top of the ninth, stamped by a two-RBI double by
Zach Michalski (Belews Creek, N.C.) to stretch the lead to 14-5.
FAMU picked up a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth on an error and a triple from Javon Byrd (Tallahassee, Fla.), but those were the final runs of the game.
NCCU will host Campbell on Wednesday, May 10 at 6:00 p.m. at the Durham Athletic Park for Senior Day, and admission is free.