GREAT DANES SLIP PAST AGGIES 

Jones goes 3-for-4 with two RBI doubles and two runs scored

 GREENSBORO, N.C., March 4, 2005 – N.C. A&T left the tying and go-ahead runs at first and second in the bottom of the ninth as Albany escaped with a 7-6 win at War Memorial Stadium on Friday.

 In the top of the ninth, Leo Corvino’s doubled to the left-center field gap scoring Tony Vallone from second. Corvino’s double gave the Great Danes a 7-5 lead and proved to be the deciding run.

 Jeremy Jones started the potential Aggies rally in the ninth with a leadoff double off of reliever Shawn Ryan. Charlie Gamble then singled to right field, but an outstanding throw from Great Danes right fielder Justin Meagher kept the speedy Jones at third.

 Joe McIntyre walked to load the bases with no outs. But the rally would fall short. Patrick Oates flied out to short. Raul Santiago nearly dropped a single into left. Instead, it was caught. The fly ball scored Jones on the sacrifice, but when Marcus Mack could not make contact on a 2-2 fastball from Ryan, the Great Danes took the first game of a three-game weekend series.  

 Ethan Vaiana earned the win (1-0), Ryan earned the save (1) and Michael Hauff (1-1) was the loser despite pitching eight innings and only giving up two earned runs and striking out 10.

 Albany scored two runs in the top of the third, but N.C. A&T countered with three runs to take a 3-2 lead. Chris Williams hit an RBI single, Jeremy Jones hit an RBI double, and Gamble added an RBI groundout to account for the Aggies runs.

 The Great Danes scored three in fifth and one in the sixth inning to take a 6-3 lead. But Williams and Jones teamed to drive in two more runs for the Aggies in the bottom of the seventh. Williams hit a single to score Nic Mayo, then scored on Jones’ double to cut the deficit to 6-5.

 Jones led the Aggie bats by going 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI doubles. He also scored twice. Williams added a pair of hits and two RBI, while Santiago had two hits and an RBI.

 The two teams will meet again Saturday at 1 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium.