DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University mashed three home runs – two to tie, and one to take the lead against Bethune-Cookman – but the Wildcats had the final word as a ninth inning RBI single stopped a weekend sweep for the Eagles with a 5-4 finish at the Durham Athletic Park on Sunday, March 18. 
 
The first two games of the series started with a home run in the first inning, but this time around the scoring didn't start until the third frame when NCCU (14-7, 4-2 MEAC) picked up an RBI single from Andrew Valichka (Pedricktown, N.J.) to put the Eagles ahead 1-0.  After that, BCU (7-14, 2-4 MEAC) started what would turn into a home run derby with a two-run blast to take the lead at 2-1 in the top of the fourth from Zach Spivey (Ormond Beach, Fla.).
 
NCCU hit the first of its three home runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game at 2-2 as Zach Michalski (Belews Creek, N.C.) sent one over the left field wall.  The game would then go back and forth for the remainder of the contest, with neither team getting further than one run ahead.
 
BCU regained the lead in the top of the sixth on an RBI single from Giovany Lorenzo (Fort Myers, Fla.), and once again the Eagles struck right back, this time around on the first career home run from Timmy Fischvogt (Kernersville, N.C.) to level the game at 3-3.
 
NCCU pulled ahead in the bottom of the seventh on yet another solo home run, as Carter Williams (Brown Summit, N.C.) scaled the right field wall with the third homer of the game for the Eagles.  Just like NCCU had done in the middle innings, BCU answered back directly in the next inning as Spivey hit his second homer of the game to knot the score at 4-4 for the Wildcats.
 
BCU was able to score the deciding run in the top of the ninth inning after Nate Sterijevski (Clermont, Fla.) hit a triple and was brought home by Adonis Lao (Elmhurst, N.Y.) for the final tally.
 
Fischvogt was one of four Eagles with a two-hit day, joined by Evan Holland (Erial, N.J.), Valichka and Williams.
 
Spivey had the hot bat in today's 3-for-3 for BCU with two homers and three RBI to lead the Wildcats, and he finished the series with three home runs.
 
NCCU will continue the 2018 schedule on Tuesday, March 20 against Maryland Eastern Shore at 6:00 p.m. at the Durham Athletic Park.  Admission is free.