DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University jumped out to a 2-0 lead over North Carolina A&T over the first two innings, however home runs from the Aggies helped them take the first game of the weekend series, 7-4 on Friday, March 8 at the Durham Athletic Park.
 
NCCU (5-9, 0-1 MEAC) scored the first two runs of the game after Carter Williams (Brown Summit, N.C.) brought in Corey Joyce (Lexington, N.C.) in the first inning after Joyce hit his third triple of the season, and then a hit-and-run in the bottom of the second inning brought in the second run off the bat of Alex Ortiz (Wilkes County, N.C.).
 
NCAT (8-5, 1-0 MEAC) knotted the game on a two-run homer from Ryne Stanley (High Point, N.C.), and then pulled ahead on a sacrifice fly from Dawnoven Smith (Jacksonville, N.C.) to get a 3-2 advantage in the top of the third.  The Aggies kept the momentum rolling in the top of the fourth as Camden Williamson (Greensboro, N.C.) lifted a three-run home run to cap a four-run frame to push the guests in front, 7-2.
 
The Eagles were able to plate runs in the fifth and sixth with an RBI from Josh Brammell (Harrison City, Pa.) and in the late stages NCCU was able to bring the tying run to the plate on multiple occasions.  However, strong relief work from NCAT helped the Aggies to the finish line in the division-opening contest.
 
Caleb Coyle (Wake Forest, N.C.) touched home twice for the Eagles with two hits, and Ortiz also knocked a pair of hits for the home side.
 
Both Williamson and Stanley finished with three RBI for the Aggies, and Dustin Baber (Babson Park, Fla.) notched two hits.
 
Game two of the weekend series has been pushed up to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 at the Durham Athletic Park.  Admission is free.