Gamble hits 32^nd and 33^rd home runs of his career in Game 2

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DOVER, Del., April 28, 2007 – It doesn’t seem fair, but senior slugger Charlie Gamble just keeps getting better as he keeps up his assault on the North Carolina A&T baseball record book.

Gamble was a combined 4-for-7 with three runs scored, five RBI and two home runs to help the Aggies split a doubleheader with Delaware State in the start of a crucial three-game MEAC series at Delaware State’s Soldier Field. The Aggies lost the first game 11-7, but took the second contests 9-4.

The split kept the Hornets (20-19-2, 9-5 MEAC) a game ahead of the Aggies (17-27, 8-6 MEAC) for the race for second place because Bethune-Cookman has firm hold on first-place. A second-place finish is crucial for both teams because the top two seeds earn a bye in the MEAC Baseball Tournament May 17-19.

In Game 2, Gamble hit a pair of two-run homers and added a sacrifice fly to lead the Aggies. Gamble hit a two-out homer in the bottom of the first to give N.C. A&T a 2-0 lead. Lester Rivenbark helped set up Gamble’s second homer of the game and the 33^rd of his career.

Rivenbark led off the third with a single. He was replaced by Joe Wade when Wade reached on a fielder’s choice. Aggies shortstop Nick Mayo then stepped to plate and blasted an RBI double to right center to score Wade. Jeremy Jones singled home Mayo to give the Aggies a 4-0 lead.

Gamble followed with his home run to center field for a 6-0 lead. Gamble is now batting .394 and is closing in on Jones’ record for best batting average in a season, which Jones set in 2005 with a .402 batting average.

Gamble’s home runs were more than enough for Aggies starter Tim Johnson. Johnson had a complete-game, nine-strikeout performance that improved his record to 3-3 on the season.

In the first game, the Aggies were done in by a seventh inning grand slam off the bat of Justin Bittner. The grand slam helped the Hornets rally after the Aggies came back from a 3-1 deficit. Jeremy Jones opened the fourth with a solo home run. Gamble’s single led to a two-run homer from Joe McIntyre to give the Aggies a 4-3 lead. The Aggies added on two more runs as Delaware State trailed 6-3 before Randy Boyer hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning to pull the Hornets to within a run.

The Hornets tied the game when Jarrett Bibb drew a bases loaded walk in the seventh. Two batters later, Bittner hit the first pitch from Aggies reliever Jody Calloway over the fence in left center for a grand slam to give DSU a 10-6 lead. It was Bittner’s first homer of the season. Tom Shelly doubled in the Hornets’ final run later in the inning.

N.C. A&T hit five home runs in the first six innings to open up a 6-3 lead. Kory Kinnear had two solo shots for the Aggies. Wade, Jones and Joe McIntyre also homered in the first game.

Nelson Santos joined Gamble in the home run department in the second game. The two teams play again tomorrow, starting at noon. An Aggies win would move them into a second-place tie with the Hornets.