DURHAM, N.C. – The series finale between North Carolina Central University and Lafayette went right down to the wire, by a home run in the top of the ninth gave the Leopards a 2-1 win and the series on Sunday, March 3 at the Durham Athletic Park.
 
Both starting pitchers held their opposing clubs in check, as both NCCU (5-6) and LC (3-6) only managed to push one run across during their stays, with both runs coming in the fifth inning.  Ryan Miller (Blandon, Pa.) tossed six innings without walking a batter with eight strikeouts, and Brett Kreyer (Ashburn, Va.) lasted five innings with three strikeouts and four walks, and both starters allowed five hits.
 
LC ushered in its first run of the contest on an RBI single from Justin Johnson (Glen Gardner, N.J.) in the top of the fifth, and NCCU leveled the game on a sacrifice fly from Trey Maslin (Franlkin, N.C.) in the latter half of the frame.
 
The contest stayed squarely in the balance all the way to the ninth frame until Richard Villa (Dix Hills, N.Y.) lifted a go-ahead solo home run to left to give the Leopards breathing room at 2-1.  The Eagles were able to bring the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the inning, but David Giusti (New Canaan, Conn.) tossed the final two outs of the game for his first save of the year.
 
Both Corey Joyce (Lexington, N.C.) and Alex Ortiz (Wilkes County, N.C.) collected two hits for the Eagles, and Joyce notched his second double of the campaign.  Villa was the lone batter with multiple hits for the Leopards as he finished with two including his home run.
 
The Eagles will head to Presbyterian on Tuesday, March 5 before hosting North Carolina State on Wednesday, March 6 at 6:00 p.m. at the Durham Athletic Park.  Admission for that contest will be $5.