DURHAM, N.C. – A standout pitching performance from Beau
Dees (Blenheim, S.C.) and a gritty team effort lifted the Presbyterian College
baseball team to a 3-2 road win over North Carolina Central on Saturday, 3-2.
PC moves to 2-4 on the season while NC Central suffers its
first loss at 3-1. The two sides resume the series with a doubleheader at 1
p.m. that will feature a nine-inning game and a seven-inning game.
Dees pitched seven innings of one-run ball to go 1-1 and the
PC defense held strong by not allowing an error. Freshman Michael Trebendis (Fayetteville,
Ga.) earned his first career save with two innings of work.
Brad Zebedis (Rock Hill, S.C.) hit his second home run of
the season and Aaron Preston (Goose Creek, S.C.) delivered two RBI.
Despite putting together only six hits, the Blue Hose prevailed
as the Eagles stranded 10 runners on the afternoon.
The Blue Hose took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning after
Zebedis went yard to left field on a solo home run. PC put two runners on after
the dinger but could not cash in.
NC Central threatened in the bottom of the inning before
Dees struck out an Eagle to end the threat without a run.
The Eagles broke through in the next inning, scratching out three
hits and scoring on an RBI single to right center. The play tied the proceedings
through five, 1-1.
PC swung back in the top of the sixth. With Brandon Paul
(Augusta, Ga.) and Zebedis on base, Preston ripped a double down the left field
line to give the Blue Hose a 3-1 lead.
After two scoreless half-innings, the Eagles put two on in
the seventh but PC prevailed as Dees forced a fielder's choice to keep PC
ahead by a pair.
Trebendis then entered the game in the eighth. The freshman
held NC Central to one lone hit in the frame before gutting out the save in a tension-filled
ninth. Zach Lee poked out a leadoff single and Carter Williamson drew a walk to
put two aboard. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners over and a groundout cut PC's
lead in half, 3-2.
With the game on the line, Trebendis fooled Luis Diaz to swing
at strike three and PC clinched the win, 3-2.
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Presbyterian College 000 102 000 - 3 6 0 (2-4)
N.C. Central........ 000 010 001 - 2 12 2 (3-1)
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Pitchers: Presbyterian College - DEES, Beau; TREBENDIS, Michael(8) and LONG, Derek.
N.C. Central - ROMANO,M.; KIMBER,E.(9) and HIATT,R.; WILLIAMSON,C.
Win-DEES, Beau(1-1) Save-TREBENDIS, Michael(1) Loss-ROMANO,M.(0-1) T-2:10 A-43
HR PC - ZEBEDIS, Brad (2).
Weather: Wet, cold (42 degrees)
DEES, B. faced 1 batter in the 8th.
