CHARLESTON, S.C. – North Carolina A&T jumped out to a big lead on Friday and held on to win by one run. A day later, the Citadel jumped out to the big lead only to hold off an Aggies comeback to win 7-6 in non-conference baseball inside Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park. 

The Aggies had a 6-0 lead on Friday before winning 7-6. The Citadel had a 6-0 lead over the first five innings on Saturday before the Aggies started to rally. 

"Proud of the fight to come back in the ballgame," said A&T coach Ben Hall. "Tip your cap to their starter. He had us off balance early." 

The Aggies started their assault on the Bulldogs lead when senior Ryne Stanley earned an infield single and moved to third on a one-out single from Cameran Brantley. Stanley went home on an RBI sacrifice fly from freshman Xavier Bussey before the inning ended on a fly out. 

Two more Aggie runs crossed the plate in the seventh. Junior Justin Rodriguez's RBI double scored freshman Connor Knapp who singled with one out. After a passed ball moved Rodriguez to third, a two-out RBI single from Stanley made it a 6-3 game. Stanley was forced out going to second to end the inning. 

The Bulldogs (4-5) did add a run in the seventh. The Aggies responded by plating three more runs in the visitor's eighth. Brantley and Bussey reached base to open the inning as Brantley walked, and a pitch hit Bussey. It set up Junior Justin Williams' two-run RBI double to cut the Bulldogs lead to 7-5. 

Williams' double brought the tying run to the plate in freshman Trevor Sheehan. Sheehan hit into a fielder's choice as Williams got tagged out at second. Knapp walked, and after a fly out, sophomore Tony Mack walked to load the bases with two outs. A wild pitch by Bulldog reliever Caleb Speedy scored Sheehan to make it a one-run game. 

Stanley walked to reload the bases, but senior Dustin Baber struck out to end the threat. The Aggies did bring the go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth, but a double play ended the game. A&T left seven runners on bases, Saturday. 

"We just have to eliminate the opportune mistakes throughout the game that cost us runs in situations and cost us chances to score," said Hall.

  Brantley, Knapp and Stanley all had multi-hit games for the Aggies. Justin Williams posted a team-high two RBI. Williams, Knapp and Rodriguez recorded extra-base hits – all doubles. 

Freshman Derek Martinez (0-1) got the start and surrendered five earned runs over four innings pitched, striking out four. Cameron Reeves (1-0) got the win after pitching seven innings, giving up three runs, two earned, while striking out seven. 

"Tomorrow is a huge game," said Hall. "I'm excited to see the grit we come out with tomorrow." 

The rubber game will be played Sunday, March 7 at 1 p.m. at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.