GREENSBORO - Bethune-Cookman scored five runs in the ninth to secure an 11-3 win over the North Carolina A&T baseball team in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader at War Memorial Stadium. The second game of the doubleheader was postponed until Sunday morning at 11.
A second game will follow. The Aggies led 4-0 in the top of the third before the game was suspended due to inclement weather.
N.C. A&T's chances against the reigning five-time MEAC champions looked promising as well. After trailing early, the Aggies made a push toward the Wildcats' lead. Sophomore Kelvin Freeman smoked a double to center field to lead off the seventh. Marquis Riley followed with a walk to set up an RBI single from Xavier Macklin that cut BCU's lead to 5-2.
Riley sliced the lead to two when he scored on an error by Wildcats first baseman Ryan Durrence. Wildcat starter Gabriel Hernandez got out of the jam by striking out the next two Aggies. The Wildcats (17-15, 4-0) added a run in the eighth and then put together a five-run inning in the ninth.
Hernandez picked up the win as he improved to 3-0. Esterlin Paulino dropped to 2-4 on the season. The Aggies got RBIs from Luke Tendler, Riley and Macklin. Peter O'Brien and Durrence each had three hits and two RBIs. The Aggies are 8-20 overall and 2-4 in the MEAC.
