NCCU OPENS with Loss -- N.C. Central, playing its first game in historic Durham Athletic Park, posted six hits on the way to a 4-2 loss to Iona on Friday in the Eagle Fall Classic.
Iona's senior lefthander Justin Wiley struck out nine in seven innings of his first outing in nearly two years, spoiling the first career start by NCCU's Drew Robinson.
In his first career start at NCCU, Drew Robinson (0-1) pitched an effective five innings, allowing two runs on three hits.
The Gaels started the scoring in the second inning after back-to-back hits, a single from Andrew Passerelle and a double by Chris Griffin to put runners at second and third with no outs. Passerelle later scored on a passed ball by junior Robert Grant, and Griffin crossed the plate on an RBI groundout by Dean Dignelli for a 2-0 Iona lead.
The Eagles got on the board in the fourth inning when Kurt Wilson was hit by a pitch and Blake Murray singled to left. After Wilson was forced out at third, Murray scored on a throwing error that cut the margin to 2-1.
Iona added a run in the sixth for a 3-1 lead, but the Eagles scored in the eighth after hits by Akeem Hood and Wilson. Murray reached on a fielder's choice, and Wilson was ruled out at second because of runner's interference. Hood scored on a balks by Iona reliever Pete Ladis for a 3-2 score.
Passerelle hit the first pitch of the ninth for a home run to set the final margin.
NCCU faces Delaware State today at 4 p.m. in the second day of the Classic.
Heels rally in the 10th -- No. 11 North Carolina scored two runs on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 10th to rally past George Washington 6-5 at Boshamer Stadium.
Jesse Wierzbicki led the Tar Heels with two RBIs including his first homer at UNC.
Freshman Michael Morin (1-0) earned the win for the Tar Heels after throwing one inning and allowing one run. Matt Harvey made his 30th career start, tossing 5 2/3 innings with three earned runs and three strikeouts.
Duke Falls in Opener -- Shawn Tolleson struck out 11 batters in six innings while holding Duke to three runs to lead Baylor to a 9-3 win Friday afternoon in the opening game of the QTI Apparel's Opening Weekend Classic in Waco, Texas.
Tolleson gave up three runs in the first inning, but then teamed with reliever Josh Turley to shut out the Blue Devils over the final eight innings. After Duke strung together two doubles and three runs in the first inning, the duo of Tolleson and Turley held the Blue Devils to just three hits over the remainder of the game.
Turley, who entered the game with a 5-3 lead in the seventh, picked up the save with three innings of one-hit relief. The lone single off of the left-handed Turley came from Duke senior Jeremy Gould, who finished 2-for-2 with two RBI, two walks and a run. Gould also threw an inning in relief, striking out one while facing the minimum in the bottom of the eighth.
Softball
Johnson, Spaulding pace Heels -- North Carolina (4-3) beat Saint Joseph's 6-3 in the Carolina Classic. UNC senior Amber Johnson racked up 13 strikeouts to record the victory.
The Tar Heels (4-3) got on the board in the top of the first on a two-out homer by first baseman Danielle Spaulding, her first of the season.
In the opener, Spaulding threw a no-hitter to lead the Tar Heels to an 11-0 win over Delaware. Spaulding recorded 16 strikeouts in six innings.
Women's lacrosse
Bullard, Kaestner power Duke -- Juniors Sarah Bullard and Christie Kaestner both turned in career performances to lead Duke past Richmond 17-9 at the Spiders' Crenshaw Field.
Bullard totaled a career-best seven points on five goals and two assists, while Kaestner netted two goals and dished out four assists to lead the No. 5 Blue Devils to their third straight win to start the season.
Duke outshot the Spiders 53-22 for the game and turned the ball over 15 times to Richmond's 24 turnovers.
