LEXINGTON, S.C. – The North Carolina A&T Aggies baseball team split Friday's Opening Day doubleheader losing the first game to Butler, 4-2, but defeating George Mason 12-2 in the nightcap at Lexington County Stadium.
"You have to love opening day," said head coach
Ben Hall. "It was a fun opportunity to get that competitive juice going."
In the first game, Butler broke open the game with two runs in the top of the third. The Aggies (1-1) committed a critical throwing error to allow for one of the Bulldogs runs in the inning. In the home half of the third, N.C. A&T responded on an RBI single from senior shortstop
Dustin Baber to make it 2-1. Baber went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a walk.
The Bulldogs picked up two big insurance runs, one in the fourth and one in the sixth, to make it 4-1. The Aggies made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth, however. After two walks and a hit by pitch, N.C. A&T had the bases loaded with two outs. A wild pitch scored
Donte Wade and moved the other two runners over to second and third making it 4-2 with the winning run coming to the plate in freshman infielder
Alex Reyna.
Reyna battled but eventually struck out and the Aggies stranded the tying run at second base. N.C. A&T left 12 runners on base in the game.
"Just didn't quite do the little things offensively in Game 1," said Hall. "We left a bunch of runners on base. Give Butler's pitchers credit. They got out of jams in a couple big spots."
The Aggies didn't leave too many runners on base against the George Mason Patriots.
"Happy to see the guys bounce back in Game 2," said Hall. "We got a quality start from Ethan (Chavis). We played good defense and it was good to see the offense take advantage of free bases."
The Aggies scored three runs in the top of the first. N.C. A&T loaded the bases before Baber scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-0.
Zach McLean then singled up the middle and scored two more Aggies in
Alex Bibb and
Camden Williamson.
The Aggies started to pour it on in the third padding their lead with six more runs to go up 9-0. It started with Bibb singling and advancing to second on an error. Williamson followed by laying down a bunt to advance him to third.
Sophomore
Scott Meitzler singled to score Bibb and McLean walked. Senior
Shane Faulk was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
The Aggies showed great discipline in the batter's box with the bases loaded drawing three straight walks to score three runs. N.C. A&T drew 14 walks against the Patriots led by Wade who walked four times. To round out scoring in the inning Bibb came back around and hit a two-run single to make it 9-0.
The Aggies scored three more runs the following inning to complete their 12-run offensive explosion. Baber went 1-for-4 with a double and four RBI to lead N.C. A&T.
LHP Chavis pitched five scoreless innings striking out four and giving up just four hits.
The Aggies will get a shot at redemption when they take on Butler Saturday afternoon at 4 from Lexington County Stadium. The Aggies will return to Greensboro for their home opener ?on Tuesday, Feb. 18 against Appalachian State at 4 p.m.
"It's a marathon," said Hall. "We just want to be better tomorrow than we were today."
