ASHEVILLE, N.C. – North Carolina Central University rode a four-run wave in the seventh inning to pick up a 6-3 win over UNC Asheville on at Greenwood Stadium on Wednesday, April 25.
 
UNCA (10-30) scored first to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning, and then used a parade of pitchers to keep NCCU (23-21) off the board until the fifth inning.  Corey Joyce (Lexington, N.C.) drove in the first run for the Eagles on a sacrifice fly before an error gave NCCU a 2-1 lead.
 
The Bulldogs swung the game back in their favor right away on a two-RBI single from Carmine Pagano (McLeansville, N.C.) to give the hosts a 3-2 advantage in the bottom of the fifth.  The Eagles found the key to take the lead in the seventh inning on yet another big inning, a theme that has been common this year for the maroon and gray.
 
Carter Williams (Brown Summit, N.C.) started the rally with his fifth triple of the year, which tops the MEAC.  Joyce collected his second RBI of the game on a single to drive in Williams before Zach Michalski (Belews Creek, N.C.) ripped a go-head two-RBI double.  Dominic Cuevas (Gurnee, Ill.) drove in the final run of the inning to finish a four-run frame to move the Eagles in front, 6-3.
 
The Eagle pitching staff held firm to finish the game as Jonathan Figueroa (Chicago, Ill.) was the pitcher of record for his MEAC-best sixth win of the year, and Justice Sampson set the Bulldogs down in order for his fifth save of the year, which also leads the conference.
 
NCCU finishes its eight-game road swing on Saturday, April 28 as it starts a three-game MEAC Southern Division series with Savannah State.