ROCK HILL, S.C. (March 30, 2016) – North Carolina A&T was shutout for just the second time this season as Winthrop defeated the Aggies 7-0 Wednesday at Winthrop Ballpark in non-conference baseball action.
Sophomore Milton Rivera had a superb night by going 3-for-4. He extended his hitting streak to 11. It was also his 14th game in which he had multiple hits. That number leads the team.
Left-hander Matt Stanley got the start for the Aggies (6-21), but they pitched six players against the Eagles. The Eagles started Zach Cook but four other Eagles would grace the mound before the night was over.
N.C. A&T's biggest scoring threat came in the fourth inning when Reece Green replaced Cook to open the frame. Rivera welcomed Green with a single to right-center field. Rivera was eliminated from the base paths on a force out that allowed Adan Ordonez to reach.
Junior Timothy Ravare put two runners on with a single after senior Ryan Jantsch flied out. Both runners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch, but freshman Dawnoven Smith flew out to right to end the threat. A ninth inning scoring threat occurred when Smith was hit by a pitch and junior Kyle Clary walked with two outs. But Cameron Hearn struck out to end the game.
Winthrop got all the run support they needed in the first inning. Tyler Asbill led off with a single. Stanley retired the next two Eagles before Roger Gonzalez homered to left field for a 2-0 advantage. Winthrop added two more runs in the third again with a two-out rally. Gonzalez tripled to right field to score Anthony Paulsen who singled. Mitch Spires grounded out to score Gonzalez.
The Aggies will now enter a crucial three-game series at Savannah State over the weekend. The two teams will play a Saturday doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. The series will conclude at 1 p.m., on Sunday. Both teams are 2-4 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
