DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University opened the 2020 season at home against Radford, and a big sixth inning by the Highlanders gave the guests a 12-2 win on Friday, Feb. 14 at the Durham Athletic Park.
 
Radford (1-0) scored first in the top of the first inning after an RBI single by J.D. Mundy (Roanoke, Va.), and the Highlanders added another run in the third to pull ahead 2-0.  Radford broke the game open in the top of the sixth when it scored four runs, helped by a two-RBI single by Colby Higgerson (Chesapeake, Va.) to go ahead 6-0.
 
NCCU (0-1) got onto the board in the bottom of the seventh inning after Vinny Bailey (Raleigh, N.C.) socked a two-run home run over the right field wall to register the Eagles' first homer of the year.  However, strong pitching by the Highlanders kept the Eagles without scoring for the rest of the contest.
 
Both Myles Coston (Pittsburg, Calif.) and Michael Alicea (Toa-Alta, Puerto Rico) both collected a team-best two hits for the Eagles.  Brandon Donovan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) earned the win for Radford as he pitched 6.2 innings with 11 strikeouts.
 
Game two of the weekend series will be on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 3:00 p.m. at the Durham Athletic Park.  Admission is free.