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Baseball Team Huddle
Jenna Hiscock
0
Canisius CAN 1-2
9
Winner N.C. Central NCCU 2-1
Canisius CAN
1-2
0
Final
9
N.C. Central NCCU
2-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H E
Canisius CAN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3
N.C. Central NCCU 0 5 1 2 1 X 9 8 0

W: MILLER,R. (1-0) L: DeStefano, Jeff (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

N.C. Central Strikes Early to Defeat Baseball, 9-0

Recap:
Despite only playing 5.1 innings, North Carolina Central knocked off the Canisius baseball team, 9-0, as the Golden Griffins ended opening weekend with a rain-shortened loss Sunday afternoon at Durham Athletic Park in Durham, N.C.
 
In his first start for NCCU, Ryan Miller got the win as the right-hander allowed two hits and struck out 11 in five shutout innings. For Canisius, freshman Kyle Kush was an offensive bright spot by coaxing out a walk in both of his plate appearances.
 
The game started with a quick first inning, as both Miller and Canisius sophomore starter Jeff DeStefano only faced three batters apiece.
 
The second inning was all N.C. Central, as the Eagles jumped out to a 5-0 advantage in the bottom half. After getting the first out, DeStefano walked Jacob Raby before getting Caleb Coyle to fly out, but a Vinny Bailey double plated Raby for the opening run of the game. Bailey then scored off a single from Garrett Nepert, while Nick Fajardo singled and Carter Williams walked to load the bases. Trey Maslin broke the game wide-open with a bases-clearing double, and a walk to Josh Brammell ended DeStefano's day. Making his collegiate debut, freshman right-hander Andrew Fron came in and got Corey Joyce to ground into a fielder's choice for the final out.
 
Kush gave the Griffs a chance to score in the top of the third, as a two-out walk was followed by two balks, but Canisius was unable to push the freshman second baseman across. NCCU extended the lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the third, as Raby walked and then stole second to put himself in scoring position. After Fron struck out Coyle, a wild pitch advanced Raby to third and an error by the Griffs allowed Bailey to drive Raby in.
 
The fourth saw the Eagles plate two more runs, as Brammell stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Corey Joyce then walked and swiped second base on a Raby strikeout, bringing up Coyle who scored both runners with a base-knock to right, making it 8-0.
 
Fajardo added to the N.C. Central lead in the fifth, as the Eagles centerfielder singled and advanced to second on an error. Back-to-back singles from Williams and Maslin pushed Fajardo across home to extend the game to 9-0.
 
In the top of the sixth, Kush once again got in scoring position, as his second walk of the day put him on first before a wild pitch allowed the freshman to move over to second. The game would end with Kush on second, though, as rain rolled into the area, forcing a weather delay. The game was eventually called after 5.1 innings, winning N.C. Central the game, 9-0, and the series.
 
DeStefano was handed the loss, allowing five earned runs over 1.2 innings while giving up four hits and four walks. Fron's debut saw him go 1.1 innings, allowing two earned runs and three walks.
 
Sophomore lefty Zach Chivers made his first appearance of 2019, allowing two runs (one earned) over two innings of work, allowing four hits and a walk while getting three strikeouts. NCCU's Ryan Decker posted a walk and a strikeout in his 0.1 innings on the mound.
 
Senior shortstop Conner Morro and junior third baseman Stephen Bennett registered the Griffs' only hits of the day, with Bennett legging out a double in the fourth. Junior Jacob Victor tallied one walk as the designated hitter. For NCCU, Maslin led the way by notching four RBI on two hits, including a double, while Fajardo recorded two hits as well.
 
Head Coach Matt Mazurek's Postgame Comments:
"We have no choice but to rebound from a loss like this. We gave them free opportunities today and they cashed in on them. We will not win many games giving free baserunners and free outs. This week we need to work on some basics, both on the mound and at the plate, to put ourselves in a better position to be more successful."
 
Game Notes:
• Sunday marked the first career starts for DeStefano, sophomore backstop Jake Zurat and freshman first baseman Dylan Vincent.
• Morro extended his hit streak to nine games, as the shortstop collected a fourth-inning single to maintain his streak that dates back to May 24, 2018 against Niagara.
• This was Bennett's first double since April 14, 2018 at Iona. The junior has recorded a hit in all three games to start the season.
• Victor has now reached base via a walk in three of his last four games played.
• Chivers' two innings pitched and three strikeouts are both career highs for the native of Jupiter, Fla.
• The all-time series between the two ballclubs is now split at 2-2.
 
Next Series:
Canisius will head back to North Carolina Feb. 22-24, playing a four-game series at UNC Charlotte. The Griffs will take on the 49ers Friday at 3 p.m., before playing a doubleheader Saturday (noon first pitch). The two teams close out the series with a noon start on Sunday.
 
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