EAST GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T sophomore Canyon Brown hit a two-out, walk-off RBI double to left field to lead the Aggies to a 5-4 10-inning win over the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) on Sunday at War Memorial Stadium. The win gave the Aggies a three-game sweep of their former Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) foe, improving the Aggies to 3-0 on the young season.
"It was great to get off to a good start with a sweep at home," said A&T head coach Ben Hall. "I thought the team stayed with the game plan today and battled through some mistakes and adversity. Cort (Maynard) and Canyon, two important pieces to this team, stepped up big in that walk-off."
Junior Luis Espinal led off the Aggies 10th by reaching on an error. After a pop-out, Espinal was eliminated from the base paths on a fielder's choice as Maynard reached first. Brown then made contact to left as Maynard took off from first on contact. Maynard hustled around the bases to capture the win for A&T. Maynard had a monster afternoon for A&T. He went 3-for-5, including a triple. He also scored three times and drove in a run. Brown had a three-hit, three-RBI day to aid the Aggies' efforts.
The Aggies carried a 2-1 lead into the UMES sixth inning, fueled by a strong start from sophomore right-hander Jaheim Brown. But he ran into some trouble in the sixth. The inning started with Brown hitting Alex McCoy with a pitch. After Brantley Cutler reached on a fielder's choice that took McCoy off the base paths, Brown hit Gabe Williams with a pitch to put runners on first and second.
Brown's pitch ended his afternoon after the Aggies went to the bullpen for junior RHP Trent Simmons to face Kyle Cincinnati. Cincinnati moved the runners into scoring position by grounding out. Luke Myers' grounder to first should have ended the inning, but instead, an error was made, allowing Williams and Cutler to score to give the Hawks their first lead of the game at 3-2.
But the Aggies quickly got the lead back in their half of the sixth, taking advantage of some Hawks miscues, starting with Camden Jackson reaching on a one-out hit by pitch. Maynard then reached on an infield single. Jackson advanced to third on the throwing error that tried to get Maynard out at first base. Jackson tied the game on the throw to catch Maynard trying to steal second.
Maynard successfully stole second, and Brown gave a preview of things to come when he hit an RBI double to score Maynard to give the Aggies a 4-3 lead. Simmons retired the Hawks in order in the seventh, but UMES tied the game at 4 in the eighth on a two-out RBI single through the right side.
A&T tried to win the game in the home ninth as Shemar Dalton opened the frame with a single. TJ Ash then hit a one-out single to left center that moved Dalton to third. UMES turned to Blake Rebstock on the mound, who got Anthony Hennings to hit a ground ball to UMES shortstop Riley Horner. Horner fired home to throw out Dalton to prevent the Aggies victory momentarily. Pinch hitter Cameran Brantley struck out to end the threat.
Despite giving up a single, Simmons got the Aggies through the 10th without much headache, setting up Brown's game-winning double. Brown went 5.1 innings, did not give up an earned run and recorded five strikeouts. Simmons (1-0) got the win, going 4.2 innings, giving up one run and striking out three. Caden Parker, who gave up the double to Brown, took the loss.
"Proud of Jaheim. He gave us a great start and really set the tone for the game. Trent Simmons gave us some outstanding relief innings."
