Riley, Rogers earn five RBIs apiece

GREENSBORO, April 19, 2009 – Nick Rogers made Savannah State pitchers pay for pitching around C.J. Beatty, and freshman Marquis Riley gave the North Carolina A&T baseball team yet another reason to be excited about the future. The Aggies defeated the Tigers 12-5 Sunday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium to earn a weekend sweep of the NCAA Division I Independent.

Rogers, who also doubled as the Aggies pitcher on Sunday, went 2-for-5 with five RBIs and two runs scored. Riley recorded two home runs and also compiled five RBIs on the day. The Aggies improved to 11-26 on the season.

The Aggies began pulling away from the Tigers in the third. With the score tied at three, Xavier Macklin and Beatty were on third and second. Rogers stepped to the plate and helped his own chances for a pitching victory by launching his eighth home run of the season over the right field wall for a 5-2 Aggies lead.

The Tigers made the game interesting again in their half of the sixth. Rogers issued a one-out walk to Brandon Webster to start the inning. Bubba Green followed that with a bunt single to put runners on first and second. A walk to Tristan Smith loaded the bases for Tigers shortstop Matt Oglesby.

Oglesby hit a double to left field to score Webster and Green, cutting the Aggies lead to 5-4. In the seventh, however, the Aggies made sure they put the Tigers away for good. James Howard, who singled to reach first, found himself on third after a sacrifice bunt and a passed ball. But when Beatty came to the plate there were two outs in the inning. Therefore, the Tigers decided to intentionally walk the two-time MEAC home run king to face Rogers.

Rogers made them pay. Rogers roped a double to right field, scoring Macklin and Beatty to give the Aggies a 7-4 lead. Jaron Neal would bring him home on a single right. After Lester Rivenbark reached on a single, Riley sent a 2-2 pitch by Rick Ramsdale to right field for a three-run homer and an 11-4 Aggies lead. Riley, who came into the series hitting .234, improved his batting average by 63 points during the week.

On the mound, Rogers would earn the win by pitching six innings and striking out three. He improved to 2-2. The Aggies are back in action Tuesday when they face Appalachian State in Boone. Game time is 6 p.m.