GREENSBORO- The North Carolina A&T baseball team was
shutout for the third time this season as the Binghamton Bearcats held the
Aggies to three hits in Sunday's 13-0
series finale at War Memorial Stadium.
Sophomore left fielder Dylan Hipp and senior catcher Eric
Chiz each singled in the game for the Aggies, while senior Dairio Little doubled
for the Aggies (4-11, 1-2 MEAC). A&T
had five players reach base in the game, but left two stranded. Binghamton turned double plays to help
eliminate the Aggies from advancing on the basepaths.
The Aggies tried a new defensive lineup in Sunday's game to
see if they could cut down on the fielding errors that the team has had in the
four-game series. Junior Luke Tendler
made his season debut at shortstop, where he spent half of the season in 2012,
and freshman Jeovanny Tolentino played at second for the first time this season. Little, who more often is found in right
field, manned the hot corner. Despite
the changes, the Aggies still committed five errors in the contest.
The Bearcats (8-4)totaled 15 hits in the contest, and were
able to capitalize on early scoring opportunities. Binghamton took a 2-0 lead in the second on a
two-run shot over the left field wall by designated hitter Shaun McGraw. Binghamton
added five runs on six hits in the top of the third. A pair of RBI singles by centerfielder Mike
Burnal and first baseman Jordon Smucker gave BU a 9-0 lead in the fourth
inning.
Right-hander Jamal Clark came on to pitch in the top of the
fifth for the Aggies, and kept the Bearcats scoreless. Little led off the bottom half of the inning
with a double to left-center field. But
then BU starter Jack Rogalla retired the next three batters to end the
threat.
The Aggies had two batters reach base in the seventh and
eighth frames, but were unable to bring them home. A&T went down in order in the ninth.
The Aggies will host Lehigh at 6 p.m., on Wednesday at War
Memorial Stadium, before welcoming Bethune-Cookman to town for a three-game
series.