GREENSBORO-The Aggies had an early lead and kept the Mountaineers scoreless in the first 5.1 innings, but just two innings was all it took for ASU to pull ahead and secure a 5-3 victory.

"It was a good baseball game, both teams were competing.  We had them on the ropes in the first inning.  That first guy, we kind of bailed him out a little bit again.  We keep costing ourselves on the basepaths, bailing the guys out," said head coach Joel Sanchez.  "It was the first time we've scored in the first inning, and we were positioned to tack on a couple more and we didn't." 

But despite the team's offensive shortcomings in stranding seven runners,  Sanchez was pleased with his team's performance on the mound.  Redshirt junior southpaw Ruben Torrellas allowed three runs on six hits in 6.0 innings with just two walks.  Freshman Joe Mackey, who got the loss, allowed two runs on three hits with a strikeout in 3.0 innings. 

Freshman left-hand pitcher Jeffrey Springs took the bump for the Mountaineers.  He allowed a leadoff double to left field by A&T third baseman Michael Radford to start the game.  That was followed by a bunt single by second baseman Marquis Riley.  A two-run RBI double to left by right fielder Dairio Little made it a 2-0 ball game. 

The Aggies weren't able to tag Springs for more runs, getting one walk and one single off him in his next three frames.

"You know, that kid struggled in the first inning, but he settled down after that and would up pitching three more good innings," Sanchez said. 

But during that time, Torrellas was being just as stingy in his pitching.  He did not allow more than three hits in his first five innings. 

"Ruben was cruising--he was keeping them off-balance and working in and out for five quality innings.  In that sixth inning, he walked the first two guys and they eventually wound up scoring.  He lost a little bit of his control but he kept it together and kept us in the ballgame," Sanchez said.

In the sixth inning, Torrellas walked the Holmes brothers, Noah and Trey, to put two on with no out for Hector Crespo.  Crespo popped up in foul territory to A&T catcher Stefan Jordan, who dove and caught the ball just by the foul line near the batter's box.  Left fielder Preston Troutman then doubled down the left field line to score Noah Holmes.  An infield single by shortstop Will Callaway scored Trey Holmes to make it a 2-2 game.  Designated hitter Daniel Kassouf followed with a sac fly to Dylan Hipp in center field to bring home Troutman and give the Mountaineers their first lead of the game. 

Right fielder Tyler Tewell then singled to right field, but a 9-5-2 play got Callaway out at home to end the inning.

The Aggies tied the game at 3 with an RBI single by Riley to score Jordan, who singled to start the inning. 

Mackey held the Mountaineers scoreless in the seventh and eighth, and put out the first two batters of the ninth inning.  Tewell doubled to right field to start another ASU scoring strike.  He scored on a single by catcher Jeremy Dowdy, who singled toward second.  Riley tried to throw the ball to Jordan to get Tewell out at home, but the throw was high.  Jordan leapt to catch it and the ball came out of his glove.  Tewell was safe to make it a 4-3 game.  Dowdy advanced to second on the throw toward the plate.  He then stole third while Tyler Zupcic was batting.  Zupcic walked to put runners on the corners for Noah Holmes.  Holmes singled and Dowdy came around to score the fifth ASU run.  But Zupcic was put out at third, 6-5, after the run scored. 

Despite that rough patch, Sanchez has been pleased with Mackey's performance to date.

"He's pitched well.  He's been good, especially being a freshman.  He's been one of the key bullpen guys for us.  He came in throwing strikes.   He was Mackey again for a couple of innings and then he started off that ninth inning again with two outs.  He left a couple of balls up in the zone and that was about it.  It was a good outing," Sanchez said.

Jordan walked in the ninth inning, but the last two Aggie batters were retired to end the game.  The Aggies (3-5) saw improvement in their offense, especially after getting a quick start on Tuesday.  Sanchez looks to see more consistency in taking the offensive during games.

"Our offensive approach continues to get better.  We need to keep working on that and I think we'll be ok.  We're making some small progress on the offensive side," Sanchez said.

The Aggies will host Radford for a 3 p.m., game on Wednesday at War Memorial Stadium.  Freshman RHP Shane Carter will take the mound for the Aggies, while LHP Jeff Maxwell will start for Radford.