Steven D'Eusanio hit a home run and drove in all three runs and Collin Floyd allowed two hits over six innings as the pair led the Youngstown State baseball team to a 3-1 victory over N.C. Central on Saturday at the Durham Athletic Park.

The Eagles scored the first run of the contest on a solo home run in the third inning before the Penguins plated the final three runs to even the series at a game apiece. NCCU's homer in the third was its final hit of the game as three YSU pitchers did not allow another over the final six innings.

Youngstown State improves to 6-6 for its best start through 12 games since 2010 while N.C. Central falls to 5-10.

D'Eusanio went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and three RBIs while Floyd was brilliant over six innings to earn his second victory of the season. The senior left-hander allowed one run on only two hits and set a new season high with eight strikeouts over six innings. Floyd retired the final eight batters he faced as he sat down the Eagles in order in both the fifth and sixth innings. He allowed only four baserunners and recorded a strikeout in five different frames.

After Floyd departed, YSU's bullpen did not allow a hit over the final three innings. Joel Hake struck out a pair while retiring six of the seven batters he faced over two innings, and Gary Clift Jr. earned his first save by working a perfect top of the ninth.

Michael Alicea produced the first run of the game with a solo home run to right field in the bottom of the third inning that proved to be NCCU's final hit of the contest.

The Penguins answered immediately with two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Dominick Bucko reached on an error before D'Eusanio hit his third home run of the season to right field.

D'Eusanio came through again for the Penguins in the top of the fifth inning. After Phillip Glasser and Blaze Glenn hit back-to-back one-out singles, D'Eusanio delivered a two-out RBI single to right field that plated Glasser and extended YSU's lead to 3-1.

Jeff Wehler and Lucas Nasonti also had hits for the Guins while Glasser, Bucko and D'Eusanio each scored a run. Nick Caruso notched his second stolen base of the season.

NCCU starter Caleb McRoy allowed two runs, one of them earned, on two hits while striking out seven over 3.2 innings. McRoy recorded five strikeouts through the first two innings. Alex Sniffen tossed the final 5.1 innings for the Eagles, surrendering one run on four hits and fanning four batters.

The Penguins and Eagles will play the rubber match of their three-game series tomorrow at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the NCCU Sports Network, and Travis Perry will start for Youngstown State.