Baseball | 4/30/2021 10:11:00 PM
Box Score EAST GREENSBORO – The North Carolina A&T Aggies forced a seven-inning run-rule to come into effect on Friday afternoon, beating N.C. Central, 12-1, inside War Memorial Stadium in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) baseball.
A&T improves to 16-27 overall and 11-10 in the MEAC. They have won seven of their last 10 conference games.
"Awesome day," said A&T head coach Ben Hall. "I was really impressed with our focus and execution."
Senior right-hander Cole Parks (W, 5-2) got the start for the Aggies on the mound and went the distance, aided by the run rule, going 7.0 innings and allowing just one run on two hits with six strikeouts. Parks has won three straight Friday night games.
"Cole was electric," said Hall. "He pitched aggressively and gave us a great start. I was impressed with how he handled those middle innings."
A&T smacked 13 hits in the game as a club with four players recording multi-hit games. Senior Camden Williamson paced the Aggie offense with his 3-for-4 performance, including a home run, three RBI and two runs scored.
A&T scored three runs in the third and the fifth innings, courtesy of three home runs. Senior catcher Ryne Stanley launched the first pitch he saw over the left-field fence in the third to lead off the inning. In the fifth, junior Justin Williams roped a two-run homer to center field, and two batters later, Williamson smacked a four-bagger of his own, making it 7-1 at that point.
The Aggies hit four home runs in Friday's game, tying a season-high after also belting four homers against NCCU in a 12-7 win on April 11.
A&T plated three runs early in the frame, courtesy of an RBI sacrifice fly from Williams and a two-run home run by senior Dustin Baber. Three-straight hits followed chase NCCU LHP Bryson Hamlet from the game with the bases loaded.
Stanley and sophomore Tony Mack drew walks to score two more, triggering the MEAC's 10-run lead for the game to end through seven innings.
"I'm proud of our whole offensive effort today," said Hall. "From the first at-bat, we looked comfortable and locked in. I wanted them to be aggressive, and they put some great swings on the ball. I'm proud we sustained that offensive focus all game."
Sophomore Cameran Brantley came into the series-opener leading the country in walks drawn with 39. He drew two more on Friday to further his lead, putting him at 41 on the year.
A&T and NCCU will play two-seven inning games on Saturday, May 1 at #TheWar starting at 1 p.m.
