March 24, 2008

Final Stats

DURHAM, N.C. -- Elizabeth City State University pounded out 27 hits during a doubleheader sweep (8-1, 13-10) of North Carolina Central University on Friday at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

In game one, ECSU pitcher Styron Barfield tossed a complete-game, two-hitter with seven strikeouts to earn the 8-1 victory.

The Vikings collected 13 hits, topped by Nick Johnson going 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI. Three other Vikings - Anthony Archie, Troy Andrews and Meshaw Taylor - had two hits each, highlighted by a second-inning solo home run by Archie that soar over the "Blue Monster" in left field.

In the first six innings of play, NCCU managed only one hit, a single by Robert Grant in the third frame. The Eagles scored their lone run of the game in the seventh and final inning courtesy of a two-out, RBI single by Kyle Davis to drive in Robert Landis.

In a game two slugfest, the two teams exchanged the lead seven times before ECSU scored four unearned runs in the top of the fifth inning to go ahead for good and capture a 13-10 win.

NCCU out-hit the visiting Vikings 15-14, but the Eagles committed eight errors resulting in six unearned runs.

The ECSU offense was led by William Kellum with three hits, including a double, and an RBI. Stephen Green came off the Viking bench for two hits and three runs scored.

NCCU was topped by Tye Gray with three hits, including a pair of doubles, and four runs scored. Brian Brice also collected three hits and crossed the plate twice for the Eagles.

ECSU improves to 13-8 overall, while NCCU falls to 4-13.

The Vikings will return to action when they travel to face Virginia State University in their CIAA opener on Tuesday, March 25. The doubleheader is slated to begin at 1:00pm at Whaley Colbert Field in Petersburg, VA. For more information on ECSU Athletics, visit www.ecsuvikings.com.