SAVANNAH, Ga. (March 31, 2018) – North Carolina A&T baseball completed the weekend series sweep at Savannah State with a doubleheader victory on Saturday. The Aggies dominated the first game with a 12-1 victory. They then came from behind with a run in the seventh inning and a run ninth for a 3-2 win at Tiger Stadium.
N.C. A&T (13-14, 5-4 MEAC) won their fourth consecutive game and moved into second place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Southern Division. Senior Milton Rivera had two home runs on Saturday to give him 14 for his career. Redshirt junior A.J, Hunt scored four times. The Aggies set season-highs in walks (10), runs (12) and RBI (11).
On the mound, junior Michael Johnson (4-0) remained undefeated. He did not surrender an earned run, gave up only two hits and walked three in five innings pitched. Junior relief pitchers Leon Hunter, Walfrank Pineiro and Roberto Negron went an inning apiece and held the Tigers scoreless on two hits.
Rivera sparked the Aggies early with a solo home run to left field in the first inning. The Aggies stretched their lead to 2-0 with Hunt scoring on an error in the Tigers outfield after reaching on an infield error. In the second, senior outfielder Myles Sowell doubled to left field, stole third base and then crossed home on an RBI bunt single by Rivera. With two runners on in the third, Rorie James singled to left field to score Smith.
The Aggies offense remained hot scoring three runs in the fourth, two in the sixth and three more runs in the eighth inning. SSU (5-17, 2-7 MEAC) committed three errors in the fourth inning. Rivera led off by reaching on an error before stealing second to score on an RBI groundout by Ordonez. Sophomore catcher Ryne Stanley hit an RBI single to left to score Hunt. Stanley later scored on a wild pitch.
In the sixth inning, Hunt drew a walk, stole second and scored his third run of the game on an RBI single to left by Smith. A bases-loaded walk sent Smith home for the third run of the inning. Finally, in the eighth, senior infielder Forest Kimbrell hit an RBI single to left to score Stanley. Sophomore outfielder Camden Williamson recorded an RBI on a fielder's choice to score James. An RBI sacrifice fly by sophomore infielder Justin Williams sent Kimbrell home.
N.C. A&T was paced by both Rivera and Smith at the plate. Both finished with two hits, two RBI and two runs scored. Stanley also had two runs scored while Sowell had the only extra-base hit of the afternoon.
In the second game, N.C. A&T trailed 2-1 going into the seventh inning. But Justin Williams tripled to right center and was brought home on an RBI single by Sowell to tie the game at 2. In the ninth, Sowell reached on a catcher's interference call and then scored the game-winning run on an RBI single up the middle by senior Greg White.
It was not the Aggies only rally of the game. With the Aggies down 1-0 in the visitor's fourth, Rivera went yard blasting his second solo shot of the day. This one went to left field to tie the game. SSU reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning with a triple by Bryce Luke followed by an RBI sac fly by Noah Orlando.
Redshirt senior Josh Bottenfield (2-1) made his 18th appearance of the season and was issued the win after tossing two shutout innings without allowing a base runner to reach. Senior Marcello Betances started and struck out a season-high eight batters in seven innings.
The Aggies will play two non-conference road games this week. They will travel a few miles down Market Street to face UNC Greensboro 6 p.m., on Monday, April 2 at UNCG Baseball Stadium. They will then head to Clinton, S.C., for a meeting at Presbyterian on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
