Oates, Beatty homer for Aggies

Box Score
NORFOLK, Va., March 25, 2007 – After a slow start to the season, junior ace John Primus returned to form on Sunday in helping the Aggies defeat conference foe Norfolk State 7-2 at Marty L. Miller Field on the campus of Norfolk State University.

In their first conference series of the season, the Aggies took two out of three from the Spartans, a team picked to finish second in the conference.

Primus recorded the 13^th complete game of his career by going nine innings, giving up just two earned runs and striking out 10. Primus continued his dominance over the Spartans by improving to 4-1 in his career against the Tidewater area team with a 3.32 ERA.

Offensively, he received assistance from junior Patrick Oates who hit his second home run in as many games and freshman C.J. Beatty added two RBI, which included a home run.

Beatty’s home run came in the third. It was a solo home run off of Norfolk State starter Luke Foss that tied the game at 1. Nick Mayo followed Beatty’s homer with a single and moved to third when Foss’ failed pickoff attempt got away from Spartans first baseman Wes Bush.

Joe McIntyre squeezed him home with a bunt that gave the Aggies a 2-1 lead. It was a lead they never relinquished as they improved to 7-15 on the season.

Leading 3-2, the Aggies put things away late in the game with two runs in the eighth and two runs in the ninth. With one out, Charlie Gamble singled to right-center field. Oates followed with his 17^th career home run over the left-center field wall off of Joey Seal.

In the ninth, Mayo hit a one-out single through the left side and stole second to move into scoring position. McIntyre followed with a single as Mayo scored on an errant throw meant to try to stop him from advancing to third base. Jeremy Jones’ single to center field put runners at first and third for Gamble. Gamble singled up the middle to give the Aggies a five-run lead going into ninth.

It was way more than what Primus needed to complete the game. Primus opened the ninth by striking out Charles LaLane. After giving up a single to Moriba George, Primus got Lyall to hit into a force play that eliminated George from the bases. Juan Serrano ended the game with a groundout to second.

Primus improved to 1-3 on the season. The Aggies are back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Spartanburg, S.C., to play Wofford at 4 p.m. The Aggies next conference series begins March 31 when they travel to Tallahassee, Fla., to play Florida A&M.