DAYTONA BEACH,
Fla. – Senior Nick Rogers continued to drive in runs had an amazing
pace. But for the first time in a while, he couldn't prevent runs from
being scored.
Bethune-Cookman swept a doubleheader from the North Carolina A&T
baseball team on Saturday with 13-3 and 11-7 wins at Ormond Beach
Complex.
Rogers recorded two hits and two RBIs in the first game. He went 3-for-4
with four RBIs, including two home runs in the second game. Rogers' six
RBIs on the day gave him 49 on the season. It is the 10th
highest total in the nation. He ranks fifth in the nation in RBIs per
game. The home runs increased his total to 10.
As the Aggies starting pitcher, he went into the bottom of the sixth
with a 7-2 lead. The Wildcats were able to score nine times in the
inning to swing the game in the Wildcats' favor.
The Wildcats hit three home runs in the inning, including a three-run
homer by Peter O'Brien. O'Brien is the only other player in the MEAC
with more home runs than Rogers. O'Brien has 13 homers on the season.
Ryan Durrence had a two-run RBI single and a home run in the inning.
The Aggies and the Wildcats came into the game unbeaten in the MEAC. The
Aggies took a big step toward splitting the double header with the
four-time MEAC Champion Wildcats thanks to a five-run second inning.
Marquis Riley opened the inning with a double to right center field.
After Alex Grubb moved Riley to third on a groundout, senior Lester
Rivenbark laid down a squeeze play on a bunt that scored Riley for a 2-0
Aggies lead. Mark Nales kept the inning going with a single, which was
followed by an error that allowed James Howard to reach and Rivenbark to
score.
Nales would score on an RBI single by senior George Hines to give the
Aggies a 4-0 advantage. Rogers closed out the scoring with a two-run
single to center that gave the Aggies a commanding 6-0 lead.
Rogers (5-3) would eventually take the loss, but gave up only five hits
over the first five innings. Sophomore Esterlin Paulino (3-2) took the
loss in Game 2. Freshman Dario Little went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Game
1.
The Aggies dropped to 12-18 overall and 6-2 in the MEAC. The Wildcats
improved to 18-13 on the season and 5-0 in the league. The two teams
play again on Sunday at 1 p.m.
