GREENSBORO-With the forecast calling for extensive rain for Sunday, the North Carolina A&T Aggies played a doubleheader against Navy on Saturday at War Memorial Stadium to finish up their three-game series. The Aggies (1-2) split the day with the Midshipmen (2-1), winning Game 1 by a 7-2 final and dropping Game 2, 11-4.
The Aggies had strong pitching in the first game, and got their offense rolling in the second half of the contest, posting five runs in the final three innings to secure the win. The Aggies got within one at 5-4 in the series finale before the Midshipmen broke the game open for six runs in the seventh.
"In Game 1, we had another good performance from our starting pitcher. Tyler Boone kept us in the game," said head coach Joel Sanchez, who secured his first collegiate coaching victory on Saturday. "They got a couple of runs early, but he kept us in the game. He did a good job, and kept their hitters off balance, and was pitching the way he's got to pitch. The defense helped him out a little bit. Overall, it was a good team performance. And eventually our bats woke up a little bit."
Right-handed sophomore Tyler Boone turned in an outstanding performance for the Aggies in the first game, which was his second career start. His last start was on May 14, 2011, and he allowed five runs on three hits in 2.2 innings at Savannah State. On Saturday, Boone allowed just two runs (one earned) on four hits with three strikeouts in 8.0 innings.
"He's had a good fall. When he throws strikes, he's one of the better arms," Sanchez said. "When he throws strikes, he's good enough to compete against anyone. Eight innings was just a bonus."
RHP Andrew Cook, who transferred from Lenoir Community College, made his A&T debut after Boone, and tossed one shutout inning of relief with a strikeout.
In the first game, Navy struck first. In the second frame, Navy added their second run on an RBI double to right field by catcher Chris Cannon to score Kash Manzelli to go ahead 2-0.
But the Aggie strung together three consecutive hits, as the Aggies tied the game at 2 in the bottom of the second. With one out, Marquis Riley doubled to the corner in right field. He scored as Luke Tendler followed with a single to right field. First baseman Kelvin Freeman followed with a single toward third base to put two on for designated hitter Dairio Little. Little grounded out to shortstop , which allowed Tendler to score the second A&T run.
The Aggies pulled ahead 3-2 in the top of the sixth. Little led off with a single to short, and went to third on a double down the left field line by right fielder Bo McMillan. A sacrifice fly to shallow right center field by catcher Eric Chiz brought Little home.
Tendler's RBI single in the seventh inning scored Riley to give the Aggies a 4-2 advantage. A&T scored three runs in the eighth inning to secure the win. Riley had a two-out RBI double in that inning to help the Aggies continue to put pressure on the Midshipmen.
Redshirt junior catcher Eric Chiz started in the first game, and finished 1-for-3 with a single and an RBI in his first game since May 16, 2009. Chiz was out the last two seasons due to injury.
Navy scored first in the series finale as well.
Left-handed pitcher Brent Moore started the game for the Aggies and allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits with five strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Navy tagged him for four runs in the second inning, as they collected four hits.
But then he settled down and did not give up a run until the fifth inning, when Greg Bryant scored as Brandon Beans grounded out to take a 5-0 lead.
"Well, Game 2, two big innings got us. We gave up the four spot in the second inning and then Brent Moore settled down. He was up in the zone in the second inning and then settled down and gave us six. He kept us in the ballgame," Sanchez said. "He could have fallen apart after that second inning and he didn't. He gave us four more quality innings after that. He gave us a chance to get back in it, and we did get back in it."
The Aggies collected four runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 5-4 contest. Third baseman Mark Nales was hit by a pitch to start the frame. Catcher Stefan Jordan reached on an error by Navy third baseman Greg Dupell to put two runners on with no out.
Andre McKoy then laid down a bunt and made it safely to first to advance both runners. With the bases loaded, Carvell Copeland struck out. Riley stepped up to the plate and hit the ball to second baseman Greg Bryant. Bryant made a fielder's choice, but he failed to put out McKoy at second. Nales scored on the play. With the bases still loaded and two out, Navy starter Zach Sipe walked Little and Freeman to score two more runs. Reggie Washington then struck swinging but reached first on a wild pitch. Riley scored the fourth and final A&T run on the play.
"And then we let it get away again with another big crooked number in the seventh inning," Sanchez said.
The Aggies held the Midshipmen scoreless in the sixth, before Navy scored six runs in the seventh.
Sanchez said the youth and inexperience in playing Division I baseball showed a little bit with the performance of his freshman relievers. The Aggies used right-handed freshman pitchers Shane Carter and Jamal Clark in the later innings.
"We wanted to get as many guys in today and in this weekend in order to get their jitters out of the way and get the deer in the headlights look from those freshmen, and those nerves out of the way," Sanchez added.
The Aggies will take on Elon at 3 p.m., on Tuesday at War Memorial Stadium, before hosting Temple from Friday-Sunday for a three-game series.
