Santos records three hits and three RBI

Box Score
GREENSBORO, March 23, 2008 – North Carolina A&T’s baseball team endured a 10-game losing streak this against such opponents as N.C. State, Louisville and Elon for the chance to do what it did over the weekend. The Aggies swept a conference opponent.

The Aggies made a major statement on Sunday with an 11-5 win over Norfolk State at War Memorial Stadium. The win helped the Aggies get off to a 3-0 start in the MEAC, while winning their seventh game in eight outings to improve to 10-11 overall.

Nelson Santos led the Aggies with a 3-for-4 performance that included three RBIs and two runs scored. Nick Mayo, Joe McIntyre, Jeremy Jones and Neil Rosser added two hits apiece with Rogers and Jones recording two RBIs apiece.

“We beat a very good Norfolk State this weekend,’’ said head coach Keith Shumate. “We were very fortunate to get the wins. I thought we really swung the bats well against a good pitching staff.”

The Aggies scored 31 runs and put together 38 hits during the series. The Aggies were also aided by a combined nine Norfolk State errors over the three-game series. As a team, the Aggies are hitting .282 on the season.

The Aggies geared up early. Already leading 2-0 going into the third, Mayo led off by beating out an infield single. Joe McIntyre followed by reaching on an error to put runners on first and second. C.J. Beatty loaded the bases with a single through the right side. Nelson Santos then stepped in and laced a double down the left field line to clear the bases and give the Aggies a 5-0 lead.

Nick Rogers capped the Aggies four-run inning by doubling down the right field line to give the Aggies a 6-0 advantage. The Spartans got on the board in the fourth thanks to a Chris Joyce RBI double that scored Brad Stephenson who reached on a single.

But the Aggies continued to take advantage of every opportunity given to them during the series. In the Aggies half of the fourth, it appeared the Spartans came away with an inning in which they set the Aggies down in order. Jones swung at a 1-2 pitch with two outs. As the Spartans started to run toward their dugout thinking the third out had been made, the umpire ruled Jones foul tipped the ball.

With another chance, Jones launched his second home run of the season over the right field wall for a commanding 7-1 lead. The Spartans closed the lead to three at 7-4 by the end of the fifth. But back-to-back doubles by Mayo and McIntyre gave the Aggies an 8-4 lead in the sixth. Jones followed with a single up the middle to score McIntyre and give N.C. A&T a 9-4 lead.

The Aggies were never seriously threatened again. Starter Donald Howerton (2-2) got the win after pitching six innings and only giving up one earned run. The Aggies return to action on Wednesday when they face Appalachian State in Boone, N.C., at 3 p.m. The Mountaineers were one of those tough teams who defeated the Aggies during their 10-game losing streak.