Jones hits two home runs

Box Score
GREENSBORO, March 30, 2008 – On a day tailor-made for sloppy play because of cold, rainy weather, the North Carolina A&T baseball team went eight innings without letting the elements have an affect.

But in the ninth, Sunday’s conditions finally caught up with the Aggies. Florida A&M scored six runs in its half of the ninth on three Aggie errors to rally and beat N.C. A&T 8-6 in MEAC action at War Memorial Stadium.

The loss dropped the Aggies to 4-2 in the MEAC and 11-15 overall as the Rattlers (6-13, 2-4 MEAC) took two out of three from the Aggies during the weekend series. The Aggies appeared to be in great shape heading into the ninth. Although he gave up a run in the eighth, the Aggies had closer Marquis Frink on the mound.

They also had a 4-2 lead. Therefore, Frink appeared to be headed for his fourth save of the season. Frink struck out Chris Justice to open the ninth. It fell apart from there, however.

Darryl Evans was walked by Frink. Steve Cunningham then hit a slow grounder to first base that earned him an infield hit. Jared Jeffries followed by hitting a slow grounder between first and the pitcher’s mound. Frink slipped as fielded the ball and tried to throw out Jeffries from the ground but had his throw soar over the head of Aggies first baseman Joe McIntyre.

Frink’s throw allowed Evans to score to move the Rattlers to within one as Cunningham and Jeffries moved to third and second. Tim Schlach came to the plate and did what his predecessors did. His slow roller went down the third base line and was fielded Nick Rogers. Rogers tried to throw out Cunningham going home, but his throw went wide right, allowing Cunningham and Jeffries to score to give the Rattlers their first lead of the game at 5-4.

Corey McFadden kept the inning going with an infield single that put runners on first and second. Tim Jones then provided the biggest punch. He singled to left field. The rolling ball went under the glove of the Aggies left fielder and made its way to the fence, allowing two runs to score for a 7-4 Rattlers lead. Jones went to third on the play and went home when Frink was called for a balk.

Down 8-4 going into the home of the ninth, the Aggies were not ready to concede. With one out, Nick Mayo singled to left. Jeremy Jones followed with his second home run of the game, this leaped over the right field wall to cut the Rattlers lead to 8-6. Rattlers reliever Julia Bailey struck out the next batter he faced, but walked Beatty and gave up a single to Nelson Santos that moved Beatty to third.

But Joe McIntyre grounded out to first to end the game. Bailey (1-1) was awarded the win in relief while Frink (0-2) took the loss in relief of starter Donald Howerton who went six innings, gave up one run, walked four and struck out five. Offensively, Jones’ two home runs yielded him three RBIs. Santos had two hits on the day.

Tim Jones led the Rattlers with three hits – two of them doubles – and he scored twice. Cunningham had two hits and scored twice. The Aggies are back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Spartanburg, S.C., to play S.C. Upstate at 6 p.m.