DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University reached a new season high in hits with 17 as the Eagles pushed past Davidson on a late sacrifice fly to take a 10-9 win on Saturday, April 6 at the Durham Athletic Park.
NCCU (13-17) and Davidson (14-11) combined to score nine runs in just the first two innings on 11 combined hits, as the Eagles led 5-4 after the first two frames. The Wildcats started the scoring flurry in the top of the first with three runs, including a two-run homer from Justin Lebek (Wilton, Conn.). The Eagles pulled ahead in the bottom of the first with four runs on a pair of two-RBI doubles from
Carter Williams (Brown Summit, N.C.) and
Vinny Bailey (Raleigh, N.C.).
Davidson knotted the game in the top of the second on an error, but NCCU went right back in front on a sacrifice fly from
Corey Joyce (Lexington, N.C.). The Eagles expanded their lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, helped by an RBI double from
Caleb Coyle (Wake Forest, N.C.) and a run-producing at bat from Joyce to go up by three runs, 7-4.
Immediately after that inning Davidson matched NCCU's four-run inning with one of its own to take an 8-7 lead after a two-RBI triple from Brett Centracchio (Alpharetta, Ga.). The Eagles responded with two more runs that started on Bailey's fifth home run of the year to put the hosts up by one, 9-8 after five frames. However, the Wildcats were able to pull level once more on an RBI single from Ruben Fontes (Bonita, Calif.) to knot the game at 9-9 in the sixth.
Davidson nearly took the lead in the top of the seventh on a sharp double to right field, but
Josh Brammell (Harrison City, Pa.) made a great play to cut the ball off and was able to relay it to the second baseman
Myles Coston (Pittsburg, Calif.) who made a fantastic throw home to the catcher
Timmy Fischvogt (Kernersville, N.C.) well ahead of the go-ahead runner to end the inning.
After saving a run there, Fischvogt brought in the winning run for the Eagles in the bottom of the eighth on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to give NCCU the 10-9 win.
Austin Vernon (Raleigh, N.C.) tossed a career-high seven strikeouts over 3.0 innings during the contest, and Bailey brought home a game-high three RBI for the Eagles. Brammell reached base in all five of hits at bats during the game as he went 3-for-3 with two walks, and touched home three times as well. Coyle and Williams also had three hits, and Joyce knocked two with a pair of RBI.
Eric Jones (Charlotte, N.C.) led Davidson with three hits and three runs.
NCCU and Davidson will meet again on Sunday, April 7 at 2:00 p.m. at Wilson Field, and the Eagles will return home on Tuesday, April 9 at the Durham Athletic Park against Duke at 6:00 p.m.
