DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University senior pitcher Nick Caregnato (Buena, N.J.) fired 6.1 innings of scoreless relief with a career-high eight strikeouts as the Eagles split the season series with North Carolina A&T with a 2-1 victory on Sunday, April 15 at the Durham Athletic Park.
 
NCAT (19-15, 9-5 MEAC) scored first for the third time in the series on a bases-loaded walk in the first inning, but NCCU (21-18, 7-8 MEAC) was able to level the game in the bottom of the frame at 1-1.  Carter Williams (Brown Summit, N.C.) started the frame with a leadoff double deep to center field before being driven in by Zach Michalski (Belews Creek, N.C.) who picked up his 40th RBI of the year.
 
Caregnato locked down the Aggies for six full innings and allowed just one hit, setting down the first nine batters he faced.  That allowed the Eagles to take the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI single from Andrew Valichka (Pedricktown, N.J.) who drove Corey Joyce (Lexington, N.C.) after his second hit of the game.
 
The Eagle defenders did their part as well as NCAT started a rally to attempt to tie the game in the top of the eighth.  The Aggies put two runners aboard with two outs, and on a single to right field the lead runner was waved home.  Jacob Raby (Granite Falls, N.C.) fielded the ball cleanly and threw a strike to Chris Wright (Hickory, N.C.) who tagged the man out to end the frame.
 
Justice Sampson (Lumberton, N.C.) pitched the final two innings for a six-out save, his third of the year.
 
The Eagles will now go on the road for the rest of the month of April, starting an eight game road swing on Tuesday, April 17 at Appalachian State.