DURHAM-After the first two games of their three-game series, there is nothing settled between the North Carolina A&T and N.C. Central baseball teams.

The Aggies trounced the Eagles 19-8 in Game 1 before falling 8-5 in a tight second contest.  Sunday's 1 p.m., rubber match at the DAP will be a key skirmish with much on the line.  An Aggies win would secure sole possession of second place in the MEAC Southern Division.

"Tomorrow's going to be a battle, said A&T head coach Joel Sanchez.  "There's a lot more to it than just a regular baseball game.  We need to come out tomorrow and play better baseball overall.  We've got to continue to swing the bats, pitch and field it better."

The Aggies (13-22, 7-7 MEAC) totaled 31 hits on the day, including 13 for extra bases.  In the first game, the Aggies set new season highs in hits (20), runs (19), triples (3) and home runs (3). Individual single-game highs included Andre McKoy's four runs scored and two triples, as well as Luke Tendler's two home runs and five RBI.   

But while the Aggies were strong offensively, their defense and pitching struggled,  as they allowed 11 walks and had seven errors across both games.

"Overall we need to play better defensively.  In both games we had way too many errors," said Sanchez.   "When you give up that many extra outs, costly outs in key situations, you put yourself in a hole-especially in that second game early." 

He added: "It was a rough day pitching too. [Estarlin] Paulino had five walks and three strikeouts-that's probably the most [walks] he's had in a while.  [Tyler] Boone had another five walks.  We walked way too many guys and gave out too many free passes.   Bad defense and walks is a bad combination." 

In Game 1, right fielder Dairio Little got things started with an infield single in the first inning off NCCU starter Sam Fulmer.  Senior second baseman Marquis Riley then knocked a 345-foot two-run homer over the right-center field wall to put A&T up 2-0.  A few minutes later, Tendler slammed a monster solo shot to right field, the ball landing on the roof of the building behind the outfield wall, to give A&T a three-run advantage.

Left fielder Andre McKoy tallied a leadoff double down the left field line to start the A&T offensive in the third.  A single to left field by Kelvin Freeman brought home McKoy to make it a 4-0 game.  With runners on the corners and one out, Tendler doubled off the right field wall to drive home the fifth A&T run for his second of five RBI.  Freshman Bo McMillan hit a two-run RBI double to make it a 7-0 game. 

The Aggies added a run in the fourth, and posted two more in the fifth to make it a 10-3 contest.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Eagles cut into A&T's lead. An RBI double by Marrow made it a six-run deficit.  Williamson reached first and took second on a throwing error by shortstop Michael Radford, and a run scored to make it a 10-5 game.  Ross Plummer then stepped up to the plate and walked to load the bases Etienne Farquharson hit a one-out RBI single just past Kelvin Freeman at first base to bring home Marrow and cut it to a 10-6 game.   

A&T got back those three runs in the top of the sixth on a three-run homer to right-center field by Tendler-his second of the game and fifth on the year-to pull ahead 13-6. The Aggies scored one in the seventh and five in the eighth to complete the blowout.   

A&T starter southpaw Estarlin Paulino (5-3) made 111 pitches over six innings to pick up the win.  McKoy and Tendler ended the game with four hits apiece. 

The Aggies continued to score runs in Game 2. A&T took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single by Freeman, who ended the game with three hits.

The Eagles (11-26, 7-7) didn't let that lead stand for long, and took their own in the bottom of the first.  Williamson's two-run RBI single to center gave the Eagles a 3-1 lead.  A two-run home run off by Tyson Simpson in the bottom of the second gave NCCU a four-run advantage.

Things got dramatic in the third inning.  Plummer bobbled and dropped a two-out fly ball hit by Radford to right field. McMillan scored on the play to cut NCCU's lead to 5-2. Initially, Radford was called out. But the call was overturned, which led to both coaches pleading their cases. The latter call stood, and Radford was eventually thrown out at the plate as McKoy doubled to left field. NCCU left fielder Deion Doubledee scooped up the ball and connected with cutoff man and shortstop Dylan Drayton. Drayton's toss to home plate to throw out Radford ended the inning.   

NCCU added three more runs in the fourth to make it an 8-2 game.  The lead was cut to three on an RBI single by Riley in the sixth frame.

Dylan Hipp made his pitching debut in Game 2 for A&T, and held the Eagles scoreless in 1.2 innings of work.

A&T got back-to-back singles to start off the seventh inning, working to rally.  McMillan hit into a fielder's choice that put out the runner at second.  With runners on the corners and one out, Jordan came in to pinch-hit for Chiz.  Jordan hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.