GREENSBORO (February 25, 2017) – North Carolina A&T baseball was the epitome of offensive efficiency against Maryland Eastern Shore, beating the Hawks 19-5 at War Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Five runs in the first inning was all the Aggies needed to get the game going and they didn't slow down over the course of the contest.
Throughtout several multiple-run innings, A.J. Hunt, Myles Sowell and Milton Rivera each produced four RBI with a combined eight hits behind a solid starting performance by Josh Bottenfield, who gave up three earned runs over six innings with four strikeouts.
Brandon Melendez led off the home half of the first by being walked before stealing second and scoring on an RBI single from Dawnoven Smith. Kyle Clary scored from second on an RBI single from Jason King and a walk to Timothy Ravare loaded the bases with two outs on the board and the Aggies leading 2-0. A walk awarded to Hunt scored one more before a double to junior Myles Sowell put N.C. A&T ahead 5-0 at the end of the first.
While the Hawks were able to add two in the second on two singles and a double, it was not enough to keep up with the Aggies who led 11-2 after four innings played. N.C. A&T got a quick two runners on base after an infield single from King and a walk to Ravare, followed by an RBI double to left field from Hunt. Ravare scored on a Sowell groundout and Hunt would take the game to 8-2 on a passed ball. In the sixth, Ravare singled to center and then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. He scored the Aggies first run of the inning on a single from Sowell who would advance to second on a throwing error at second.
A single to second from Melendez helped Sowell cross the plate and the final run of the inning came on a single from Rivera which scored Melendez. The seventh inning was even more productive for N.C. A&T as they went through their entire lineup and then some, coming away with four hits and five runs to secure the blowout.
The Aggies improved to 3-3 on the season. The series concludes on Sunday at 1 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium.
