DURHAM, N.C. – Kyle Corbin and Zach Spivey each drove out their first home runs of the season Saturday afternoon as Bethune-Cookman fell in both games of a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) doubleheader at North Carolina Central inside Durham Athletic Park. NCCU took the opening game, 5-2, before coming back to claim the nightcap, 7-4.
 
GAME ONE: NCCU 5, BCU 2
North Carolina Central used home runs from Evan Holland and Zach Michalski to lead the Eagles to a series opening 5-2 win over visiting Bethune-Cookman in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference affair Saturday afternoon inside Durham Athletic Park.
 
For the 14th time in the first 20 games of the season, Bethune-Cookman allowed the opposition to score a run in the opening frame
 
A leadoff home run from NCCU centerfielder Evan Holland allowed the homestanding Eagles the early cushion on All-MEAC pitcher Tyler Norris as they moved in front, 1-0 after an inning in the books.
 
North Carolina Central (13-6, 3-1 MEAC) would add to the lead in the home-half of the fourth inning when Corey Joyce came in from third on a balk by Norris. Joyce, the Eagles second baseman, worked his way on to begin the NCCU at-bat with a single to second.
 
The Eagles would increase the lead at 5-0 in the bottom of the sixth as Zach Michalski delivered his fourth home run of the year over the right centerfield wall. That homer drove in three altogether as Dominic Cuevas and Joyce also scored on the play. Once again, it was Joyce leading off the Eagles at-bat with a single, while Cuevas worked his way on with a walk from Norris.
 
Bethune-Cookman (6-13, 1-3 MEAC) cut into the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh.
 
Giovany Lorenzo's sacrifice fly to center field was enough to allow the speedy Zach Spivey to race in from third, while a Michael Deeb run-scoring single up the middle plated Jameel Edney for the final 5-2 decision.
 
North Carolina Central's Devin Sweet earned the win to remain perfect on the bump, improving his record at 3-0 on the campaign. He worked 6.2 innings, allowing two runs, scattering three hits and striking out a game-high six batters. The save was collected by Chris Kernen from the bullpen as he tossed the final 1.1 innings with a pair of strikeouts and a hit allowed. It was Kernan's second save of the year.
 
Meanwhile, Tyler Norris of Bethune-Cookman was tagged with the loss to fall to 2-3 on the campaign. The right-hander went six frames, being touched for five runs on four hits, four walks and picking up four strikeouts.
 
Four different Wildcats collected a hit at the plate, including RBIs from Lorenzo and Deeb, respectfully.
 
GAME TWO: NCCU 7, BCU 4
Kyle Corbin and Zach Spivey each went yard for the first time on the year, but it was not enough as North Carolina Central erased a four-run deficit to complete an MEAC doubleheader sweep of Bethune-Cookman on the cusp of a 7-4 decision Saturday afternoon inside Durham Athletic Park. As always in MEAC doubleheaders, the second game of the day is a seven-inning contest.
 
Bethune-Cookman (6-14, 1-4 MEAC) jumped on top first with three runs across the first two innings.
 
Senior left fielder Adonis Lao scored the game's opening run in the top-half of the first inning off a wild pitch by NCCU's Jonathan Figueroa.
 
The Wildcats increased their lead at 3-0 in the second inning when redshirt senior right fielder Kyle Corbin drove out his first home run of the year with a two-run shot clear the wall in right to also bring home Ian Claudio.
 
North Carolina Central (14-6, 4-1 MEAC) pegged back a run in the bottom of the second as left fielder Carter Williams swung at the first pitch he saw from sophomore Anthony Maldonado to drive a one-out home run to right center.
 
BCU led 3-1 heading into the top of the fourth inning.
 
Zach Spivey, a redshirt junior transfer from Florida Gulf Coast, punched out his first home run as a Wildcat with a leadoff shot to right field in the fourth inning, increasing the BCU lead at 4-1.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, NCCU would step in front for the first time in the game as the homestanding Eagles plated four runs in the frame.
 
With the bases loaded and no outs for Dominic Cuevas at the dish, the NCCU shortstop would register a two-run single to center field, scoring Corey Joyce and Andrew Valichka to chip the deficit, 4-3. Two plays later, Zach Michalski tallied an RBI groundout to bring across Carter Williams for the game-tying run.
 
North Carolina Central moved ahead on another RBI groundout, this one to Danny Rodriguez at first base unassisted. But it was enough for Cuevas to move home for the 5-4 Eagles lead.
 
The lead jumped to 7-4 for the Eagles in the fifth as Joyce recorded a two-out, two-run homer to right center, scoring Valichka as well.
 
The win went to NCCU's Figueroa, moving him to 4-1 on the year. He worked the minimum in the seven-inning contest, allowing four runs on four hits, while walking two. Justice Sampson provided his second save of the season in throwing the final 2.1 innings, allowing just one hit and registering two strikeouts in his time on the bump.
 
BCU's Anthony Maldonado collected the loss to even his record at 1-1 on the season. He went 3.1 innings, giving up five runs on five hits, two walks and collecting a pair of punch-outs. Joseph Calamita saw action out of the bullpen for the Maroon and Gold, as well as opening weekend starter freshman Jeremy Adams.
 
BCU was led at the plate by Danny Rodriguez with a 2-for-3 game, while Corbin and Spivey provided the sparks with their home runs, respectively.
 
Bethune-Cookman will look to avoid the series sweep Sunday as the two teams meet in the series finale back at Durham Athletic Park with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
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