Aggies use seven pitchers in win

Box Score
GREENSBORO, March 12, 2008 – In a game where it looked like North Carolina A&T baseball coach Keith Shumate was looking for any amount of combinations and formulas that will get his 2008 team going, the Aggies defeated local rival High Point University 9-7 Wednesday night from War Memorial Stadium.

Shumate switched his lineup around from the previous day when the Aggies played UNC-Asheville and he used seven pitchers to end the Aggies 10-game losing streak. Chris Mullins emerged as the winner after pitching 1.1 innings and not surrendering a run.

“We’re still trying to find what works for us,’’ said Shumate. “All you can do at this point in the season is to continue to get better and get ready for the conference season. Right now, we’re just trying to get people going after not being able to practice outside a lot because of the weather.”

In just one night, Nick Mayo went from being the No. 9 hitter and return to his normal lead-off batter status. Jeremy Jones went from the No. 2 batter to the third slot. McIntyre moved from the No. 3 hitter to the No. 2 spot and Nick Rogers went from No. 5 to No. 6. It’s not for sure if the lineup switches helped, but the Aggies did score nine runs and pound out 10 hits. Neil Rosser and B.J. Curtis hit home runs and Jones, McIntyre and Rosser had two hits apiece. Jones’ day also included two RBIs and two runs scored, while Mayo scored three times.

The Aggies scored at least one run in the first six innings of the game. Mayo broke open a 3-3 tie in the third with great base running. On a McIntyre fly ball to deep center field, Mayo tagged at first and sprinted into second base to move into scoring position. Mayo then stole third and scored on the errant throw form Panthers catcher Kyle Mahoney.

Curtis extended the lead to 4-3 n the fourth when he took a Mike Caldwell pitch over the left field wall for his second home run of the season.

In the fifth, the Aggies chased Caldwell away from the game as Jones hit a one-out triple down the right field line that rolled around in the corner long enough to allow the speedy Jones to slide into third. The Aggies leading hitter C.J. Beatty followed with a double over the center fielder’s head to score Jones for a 5-3 lead. Caldwell, who dropped to 1-2 on the season after being charged with the loss, was replaced by Sean Murphy.

He got the Panthers out of the fifth, but in the sixth Rosser greeted him with a single through the left side. After stealing second, Rosser moved to third on a wild pitch and later scored on a Joe Wade sacrifice fly. Mayo kept the rally going with a single to left field. The Panthers turned to R.J. Chlebnikow to slow down the Aggies, but McIntyre ripped a double down the right field line to score Mayo. McIntyre advanced to third on an error.

McIntyre capped off the inning and gave the Aggies a 9-3 lead after scoring on a wild pitch. John Primus, Cyril Daniel, Ryan Sellers and Marquis Frink came in to hold the Panthers to just one run over four innings to take a 9-4 lead going into the ninth.

But the Panthers would find themselves bringing the tying run to the plate in the ninth. With the Aggies leading 9-5, Billy Alvino came to the plate with the bases load and singled to center field to score two runs and cut the Aggies lead in half. But Nick Rogers ended the game by striking out Bill Manion to end the Panthers hope of a come-from-behind win.

The Aggies improved to 4-10 on the season, while the Panthers dropped to 3-11. The Aggies are back in action Friday when they host Radford at 3 p.m.