DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University struck for three runs with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to rally from a 2-1 deficit for a 4-2 win for the 28th victory of the year, breaking the single-season win record at NCCU on Wednesday, May 9 at the Durham Athletic Park.
NCCU finishes the year with a 28-24 record, passing the 2013 club (27-29) for the most wins in a season. The Eagles also captured the first winning record in program history in the modern era since the sport was brought back in 2007.
UNCA (12-33) scored first with a two-run homer in the top of the second inning from Brandon Lankford (Mocksville, N.C.) to put the Bulldogs ahead, 2-0. However, those were the only runs the Bulldogs would score, as the Eagle pitching staff held UNCA to just three hits for the afternoon.
Devin Sweet (Greensboro, N.C.) got the start and he fired five strikeouts to reach 87 and set a new single-season record, passing Andrew Vernon with 85 in 2016. Sweet reached the mark in the top of the fourth inning as he fanned a trio of batters, capturing strikeout number 86 on a called third strike to end the inning.
The Eagles picked up their first run of the game in the bottom of the sixth as
Dominic Cuevas (Gurnee, Ill.) drove in a run on a sacrifice fly, before NCCU made its big push in the bottom of the eighth. NCCU got all of its runners aboard with two outs in the frame, starting with back-to-back walks.
Jacob Raby (Granite Falls, N.C.) delivered a game-tying RBI single through the right side before
Timmy Fischvogt (Kernersville, N.C.) bounced a two-RBI single up the middle to give NCCU a 4-2 lead.
Jake McCort (Denver, Colo.) came in from the bullpen in the top of the ninth, and worked a 1-2-3 inning to lock down his first save of the season to capture the record-breaking victory.
Of note,
Jonathan Figueroa (Chicago, Ill.) was the pitcher of record for his eighth win of the year, and he finishes the year with the second-most wins in a season with an 8-4 record.
Carter Williams (Brown Summit, N.C.) also singled during the contest, and became the first Eagle to reach 100 total bases in a campaign.
As a team, NCCU knocked a new single-season 94 doubles to pass the 2017 team with 93, and also drove in a new single-season record 292 RBI, passing the inaugural 2007 club with 283.
