Box Score Head Coach Claudell Clark Post-Game Interview

NORFOLK, Va. – Troy Marrow hit a tie-breaking three-run home run in the sixth inning and Luis Diaz drove in four runs to help send North Carolina Central past Norfolk State, 12-6, in an elimination game of the MEAC Baseball Tournament on Friday morning at Marty L. Miller Field.

The loss ends the Spartans' season at 19-29. NCCU (27-28) advances to another elimination game at 6 p.m. later Friday against the winner of the game between North Carolina A&T and Bethune-Cookman.

With the game tied at 5-all in the sixth, Marrow hit his first home run of the season, a three-run shot to left off Spartan relief pitcher Troy Applin. Diaz had a pair of two-RBI hits, including a two-run double in the ninth to finish off the Spartans.

NCCU started quickly with three runs in its first two innings. Cory Williamson got the scoring started with an RBI single in the top of the first, and Diaz belted a two-run triple in the second for a 3-0 NCCU lead.

But as they did Thursday, the Spartans rallied thanks to a big inning. NSU put together a five-run bottom of the second thanks to four hits. Robert Reaume hit an RBI single to get the rally started, and Ryan Montgomery followed with a run-scoring double. The nine-hole hitter, Justin Lee, brought NSU closer by slapping a two-run double down the right field line. Lee's alert base running helped cap the outburst. He stole third on a pitch in the dirt. With one out and Andre' Moore on first, Moore was picked off between first and second, and as Moore was tagged out, Lee sprinted home, eventually sliding around a tag from NCCU catcher James Dey.

The Eagles, though, starting chipping away with single runs in the fourth and fifth. Spencer Franceschetti doubled to lead off the fourth and later scored on Tyson Simpson's sacrifice fly. Dey's two-out RBI single in top of the fifth tied it. The Spartans went to the bullpen for Applin, who avoided further damage in the fifth.

But NCCU kept coming in the sixth. Akeem Hood drew a lead-off walk and was sacrificed to second. NSU opted to intentionally walk Diaz, but the plan was thwarted when Marrow followed with a three-run home run to left, giving the Eagles an 8-5 lead.

NSU cut its deficit to 8-6 thanks to an Eagle error in the bottom of the sixth, but a two-out dropped fly ball allowed two Eagle runs to score in the eighth. Diaz stretched the lead to 12-6 with his hit in the ninth.

That was enough for NCCU reliever Michael Romano, who relieved Eagle starter Jordan Quinn in the third and pitched seven innings of strong relief out of the bullpen. He allowed four hits and just one unearned run, walked one and fanned five.

Applin (2-4) took the loss for NSU, surrendering three runs and one hit in two-thirds of an inning.

Diaz finished 4-for-5 with a run scored and four RBI. Dey, Eric Kimber and Carter Williamson added two hits apiece for the Eagles.

Montgomery, one of four Spartans playing their final game on Friday, went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run, in addition to several sterling plays at third base. Cameron Day also went 2-for-4 for the Spartans. Reaume scored twice and Lee had two RBI.