EAST GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T baseball got some help before helping themselves and then getting a spectacular bullpen performance from senior right-hander Evan Gates in a come-from-behind 8-5 win over the Boston College Eagles Monday afternoon at World War Memorial Stadium. 
 
The win put an exclamation point on what was a fabulous three days of baseball for the Aggies (5-6). They beat a Power Five team from the ACC in BC twice and also earned a win over Fairfield to finish their round-robin tournament at home, 3-0. 
 
The Aggies got to celebrate their 3-0 triumph with N.C. A&T Chancellor Harold L. Martin after the game on Monday. 
 
During the game, it was junior Justin Rodriguez who led the Aggies offensively by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Senior Dustin Baber chipped in with a 2-for-3 day that included two runs scored. N.C. A&T put together 11 hits on the day and benefited from four BC wild pitches and BC pitching walked in a run. 
 
"We just got great starting pitching all weekend," said N.C. A&T coach Ben Hall. "(Cole) Parks ran into a little of trouble today in the third. But we talked to him about pitching with composure, finding his way through trouble because it's going to come when you're a starter. He did that today and that was the key to the game."
 
Parks (1-1), who got the start and earned the win after pitching six innings, did have his struggles early. When Eagles first baseman Jack Cunningham roped a line-drive home run over the right-center field wall in the third inning, the Aggies found themselves trailing 5-0. But the BC bullpen could not contain the Aggies offense. They also became mistake-prone which aided in the Aggies rally. 
 
After BC left-handed starter Joey Walsh left the game after the two innings of work, the Eagles (5-6) turned to RHP Barry Walsh. Barry Walsh was welcomed to the game with a single from Aggies senior catcher Ryne Stanley. Rodriguez followed with another single and sophomore Donte Wade moved them into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. 
 
From there BC pitching staff lost control. Barry Walsh unleashed a wild pitch that allowed Stanley to score. After Barry Walsh walked Baber, he was replaced by LHP Will Hesslink. Hesslink threw a wild pitch that allowed Rodriguez to score and Baber to reach third. Hesslink's second wild pitch of the inning brought Baber home to cut the BC lead to 5-3. 
 
After freshman Connor Knapp grounded out, senior Camden Williamson blasted a two-out solo homer to right field to cut the BC advantage to one. Junior Alex Bibb did follow with a double but was stranded at second. 
 
"We haven't swung the bats the way we wanted to, but when you're not swinging the bats you have to execute," said Hall. "We bought into that this weekend. The first couple of runs we scored, we did a little a bunting, we moved some runners around. That removes the tension from your offensive play and then the bigger innings come."
 
That big inning occurred in the sixth. RHP Jon Campbell, Jr., opened the inning by hitting Aggies junior third baseman with a pitch. Williams moved to second on a Stanley sacrifice before Rodriguez doubled home Williams to tie the game at 5. Two pitches later, Rodriguez dashed for third base in a steal attempt. BC catcher Aaron Soucy's throw went into left field allowing Rodriguez to give the Aggies their first lead of the game at 6-5. 
 
Wade singled to center to force Campbell from the game. He was placed by LHP Ryan Smith who gave up a single to Baber to put runners on first and second before a Smith wild pitch moved both base runners into scoring position. Knapp walked to load the bases setting up Williamson's RBI sac fly to shallow right field. Wade scored to give the Aggies a 7-5 lead. 
 
The Aggies eventually loaded the bases again as Bibb was hit by a Smith pitch. RHP Michael Marzonie replaced Smith and walked senior Zach McLean to put the Aggies ahead 8-5. 
 
BC threatened that lead in the seventh by loading the bases with one out. The Aggies handed Gates the ball and he responded mightily. He struck out Joe Suozzi and got Cunningham to ground out to end the inning. He then retired the Eagles in order in the eighth and the ninth to pick up his second save of the season. He struck out four of the eight batters he faced. 
 
"Evan is outstanding," said Hall. "You feel like he can throw almost every day. He has one of the best arms we have ever had in the program. He's not a one-inning guy. If you get him out there, he can pitch extended innings. He's got put-away stuff."
 
Cunningham led the Eagles by going 2-for-4 with three RBI including a home run. Campbell (1-1) took the loss. The Aggies return to action 4 p.m., Wednesday when they face Elon at home.