Rogers hits a massive homer run in Game 2

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GREENSBORO, March 5, 2009 – After having two games cancelled because of this week’s snow fall, North Carolina A&T coach Keith Shumate worked out a way to get his team back on the field.

Shumate scheduled a mid-week seven-inning doubleheader game with Longwood University just this week. It provided the Aggies an opportunity to give a lot of players some work, and it resulted in the Aggies splitting the doubleheader as Longwood won the first game 7-5 at War Memorial Stadium on Thursday. The Aggies evened the score with a 7-5 win in Game 2. Shumate was able to play 23 of the 28 players on his roster.

Chris Mullins and Cyril Daniel had two RBIs apiece in the second game. Nick Boles pitched 4.1 innings and struck out six to improve to 1-1 on the season. Freshman Garrett Braun picked up his third save on the young season as the Aggies improved to 3-6.

N.C. A&T got off to a fast start against Longwood starter Troy Dickman. Daniel hit a two-out, two-run RBI single to give the Aggies a 2-0 lead. Mullins followed with a double down the left field line to score Daniel. In the second, Carvell Copeland laid down a perfect bunt that scored Ronald Perry to increase the Aggies lead to 4-0.

The Lancers battled back in the fifth. Down 5-2 going into the inning, Longwood designated hitter tied the game with a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Brant Jones.

But the Aggies came back strong with a two-out rally in the home half of the fifth. Longwod reliever Garrett Lythgoe hurt himself by giving up back-to-back walks to C.J. Beatty and Daniel. The Lancers turned to Mark Montgomery to halt the Aggies scoring threat.

A passed ball didn’t help him any, however as the runners moved to second and third. It set up Mullins’ two-run RBI single to right field to give the Aggies a two-run lead. The Aggies turned to their bullpen to seal the win. Blain McCraw pitched a scoreless sixth, and Braun pitched a scoreless seventh to seal the win.

In the first game, Xavier Macklin went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a home run. Nick Rogers had three hits and two RBIs, including a towering shot over the left field wall. Beatty also had three hits. Seven Aggies pitchers threw in the first game with Nick Oekler taking the loss.

The Aggies were able to tie the game in third on Macklin’s home run. Rogers helped the Aggies take the lead by reaching on an error. Beatty followed with a single, which set up B.J. Curtis’ RBI double that scored Rogers to give the Aggies a 3-2 lead. But the Lancers scored three runs in the fourth to take the lead for good in the game.

N.C. A&T returns to action 3 p.m., Tuesday when it plays USC Upstate at War Memorial Stadium.