EAST GREENSBORO – The North Carolina A&T Aggies combined for 14 hits and 12 runs over two games against the visiting Coppin State Eagles to earn a doubleheader sweep, 8-0 and 4-2 at War Memorial Stadium in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) baseball on Friday.
The Aggies, who were eliminated from any chance at a postseason berth with North Carolina Central's win on Friday, will play their last game of the season, Saturday, May 15, at noon inside War Memorial Stadium. It will be Senior Day, and a ceremony is to take place before the game begins. With the exception of bowling, Aggie Athletics will play their final MEAC competition on Saturday before moving to the Big South Conference.
"I look forward to tomorrow to honor our group of seniors and play a great game honoring the impact they've had on our program," said A&T coach Ben Hall.
A&T still played like a team on a mission, Friday, with most of Game 2's action happening in the first inning. Coppin's Brandon Watkins led off with a single up the middle before stealing second. Darren Hagan followed with a double down the left field line to score Watkins and give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Hagan advanced to third on a ground out to the pitcher and scored on an RBI sacrifice fly from Conner Walker.
A&T responded promptly with a three-run, two-out rally.
Junior Justin Rodriguez got the rally started with a two-out single up the middle, followed by junior Justin Williams going to first on a hit-by-pitch and senior Dustin Baber walking to load the bases.
Coppin starter Tyler Nichol also plunked senior Camden Williamson with a pitch to force in Rodriguez from third for the Aggies first run as Williamson earned the RBI. Junior Zach McLean followed by lacing a single to left field that scored Williams and Baber to give the Aggies a 3-1 lead.
A&T got a big insurance run in the fifth inning when Baber singled, stole second before going third on a wild pitch. He eventually scored on a wild pitch to give the Aggies a 4-2 advantage.
Freshman Xavier Meachem (2-6) picked up his second-straight win after being named MEAC rookie of the week on Monday. He went 3.0 innings in relief, allowing three hits with five strikeouts. Senior closer Evan Gates came on in the ninth and struck out three Eagles for his fifth save of the season.
"Good to see the hitters respond in the first with a big bounce-back inning," said Hall. "Those three runs back were big. Meachem and Gates were great in relief. They pitched big in some big situations."
The Aggies (21-32, 16-15 MEAC) looked great start in Game 1 as well. They scored an unearned run in the first before plating two more in the second.
Williamson led off the second with a single and, in a rare occurrence, advanced to third after two-straight balks on Eagle left-hander William Jackson. McLean brought him home on an RBI sac fly to left.
Senior Ryne Stanley followed with the first of his two doubles, and sophomore Alex Reyna advanced him to third on a bunt single. Mack drew a walk to load the bases. Sophomore Cameran Brantley then reached on a fielder's choice to the Eagle shortstop. It resulted in Stanley scoring as the Eagles forced out Mack at second.
The Aggies exploded for more runs in the fourth. Stanley led off with another double. Reyna's sac bunt moved him to third before Mack walked, and Brantley got hit by a pitch to load the bases. Rodriguez singled to right field and, courtesy of a throwing error, advanced to second while all three runs came around to score for a 7-0 lead.
Williams and Stanley had three hits apiece in Game 1. Rodriguez had a team-high four RBI.
Junior left-hander Ethan Chavis (W, 2-4) threw an absolute gem on the mound for A&T, going 7.0 innings and allowing just one hit with nine strikeouts. Chavis, who had not thrown a complete game in his career, has now thrown two straight.
"Ethan Chavis was special today with a complete-game shutout in his last start in AggieLand," said Hall. "He has been a big part of our success, and I loved seeing him finish on a special note."
