DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University found itself behind North Carolina A&T once again in the series finale, but a late three-run home run from
Caleb Coyle (Wake Forest, N.C.) helped the Eagles to a 4-3 win over the Aggies on Sunday, March 10 at the Durham Athletic Park.
The game featured two very effective starts from the dueling starting pitchers, as Michael Johnson (Lexington, N.C.) kept NCCU (6-10, 1-2 MEAC) off the board over six complete innings with six hits, two walks and three strikeouts. NCAT (9-6, 2-1 MEAC) gave him some breathing room with a solo home run from Dustin Baber (Babson Park, Fla.) in the third, and a sacrifice fly from Zach McLean (High Point, N.C.) in the fourth to put the Aggies ahead 2-0.
Ryan Miller (Blandon, Pa.) wasn't rattled however, as he turned in a career-high eight innings with five strikeouts, keeping the Eagles in the game until they were able to rally in the bottom of the seventh.
Carter Williams (Brown Summit, N.C.) brought in
Alex Ortiz (Wilkes County, N.C.) for the first run of the frame on a sacrifice fly, and then Coyle hit a towering three-run blast to right to stamp a four-inning frame to move the Eagles in front, 4-2.
For Coyle, that was his second three-run home run within the last four games, as he also left the yard against NC State on Wednesday, March 6. Coyle's homer wouldn't be the last of the game as McLean sent a solo shot out to left in the top of the ninth to trim the lead to one, but
Austin Vernon (Raleigh, N.C.) dialed up a trio of strikeouts to lock up his third save of the year, and give the hosts a 4-3 win to close the series.
Corey Joyce (Lexington, N.C.) knocked a pair of hits for the Eagles, and
Myles Coston (Pittsburg, Calif.) went 3-for-3 with a walk as he reached in all four of his plate appearances.
McLean and Baber each recorded two hits for the Aggies, as did A.J. Hunt (Chesapeake, Va.) in the final game of the weekend.
After playing 14 of the first 16 games at the Durham Athletic Park, the Eagles will play their next eight games away from home, starting on Tuesday, March 12 at Campbell.
