DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University overcame a two-run deficit by scoring five unanswered runs in the seventh and eighth innings to rally for a 5-2 season-opening victory over Canisius College, the defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champions, on Friday evening at the Durham Athletic Park.
 
Canisius tallied eight hits in the first seven innings, including an RBI single by catcher William Krull in the third and a solo home run by third baseman Stephen Bennett in the fifth, while NCCU managed just three hits until the pivotal seventh frame.
 
That's when NCCU second baseman Trey Maslin registered a one-out single, followed by a pinch-hit walk by Josh Brammell. They each advanced a base as a result of a failed pickoff, and Maslin scored on a wild pitch. Third baseman Myles Coston ripped an RBI double off the right field fence to tie the score, and he later touched home on a wild pitch to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead.
 
In the bottom of the eighth inning, NCCU shortstop Corey Joyce reached via a hit-by-pitch, and left fielder Carter Williams sent a breaking ball towering over the right field wall for a two-run home run, his second hit of the night.
 
Three runs proved to be plenty of cushion for NCCU relief pitcher Austin Vernon, who retired all six batters he faced, including five by strikeout, to pick up the save. Winning pitcher Ryan Decker pitched only the seventh inning, but battled to keep the Golden Griffins off the scoreboard after allowing a leadoff triple to shortstop Conner Morro, who collected three hits to lead Canisius.
 
The three-game weekend series resumes Saturday at 3 p.m. inside Durham Athletic Park. Admission is free.