Primus has strong start for the Aggies

Box Score     
GREENSBORO, May 9, 2007 – Even on a day off, there is always the chance the boss will call you into work anyway. That’s what happened to Joe McIntyre on Wednesday night. McIntyre, the MEAC’s leading RBI man, sat in the Aggies dugout for nine innings without the responsibility of hitting or fielding.

His day of rest ended in the bottom of the 10^th, however. With runners on first and second, North Carolina A&T baseball coach Keith Shumate called upon McIntyre to pinch-hit. The junior out of Fuquay Varina, N.C., delivered by hitting a line-drive, walk-off single to center field, giving the Aggies a 3-2 win over Jackson State at War Memorial Stadium.

The Aggies win over the No. 3 team in black college baseball improved them to 21-29 on the season. The Tigers fell to 31-19. The two teams play again on Thursday in a noon doubleheader.

It appeared the Aggies had Wednesday’s game won earlier than the 10^th. N.C. A&T starter John Primus was brilliant for 8.2 innings. He used a variety of pitches to keep the Tiger hitters off balance with his off-speed pitches being as effective as they have been all season. The Aggies ace went 8.2 innings, gave up just four hits, one earned run and struck out eight.

The one earned run he gave up, however, was the only mistake he threw all night. Leading 2-1, Primus opened in the same manner he opened the game – dominant. He got James Sims to fly out to left field and then stuck out John Adams for two quick outs. He was ahead of 1-2 on Anthony McLin after getting him to swing and miss and at two off-speed pitches.

Primus hung the next pitch over the plate and McLin didn’t miss. McLin drove Primus’ pitch over the left-field wall for a solo homer that tied the game at 2. After an excellent pitching performance, Primus would leave the game without the possibility of earning the win. Reliever Ron Phelps came in and continued his outstanding season, however.

Phelps got the Aggies out of the ninth without any further damage, and then set the Tigers down in order in the 10^th. Nelson Santos opened the Aggies 10^th with a walk. Jackson State starter Nick Stewart, who was also great on Wednesday, was replaced by reliever Steven Collins. Lester Rivenbark greeted him with a bunt single, putting runners on first and second.

Rivenbark’s bunt set up McIntyre’s heroics. McIntyre took Collins’ 1-2 pitch and lined it to center field to score Rivenbark. Stewart, who pitched nine innings, gave up four hits and struck out seven, was the tough-luck loser as he fell to 6-5 on the season. Phelps earned the win. He improved to 4-4.

The Aggies got on the board first as Charlie Gamble hit an RBI double down the left field line to score Nick Mayo and Jeremy Jones for a 2-0 lead. The Tigers didn’t get on the board until the sixth when Enrique Quintero hit a gapper to left-center field. As Quintero tried to leg out a triple, Mayo took C.J. Beatty’s cut-off throw from the outfield and threw the ball over the head of Santos at third base, allowing Quintero to score.