NEWARK, Del. – North Carolina A&T lost its second straight one-run game to the Delaware Blue Hens as the Blue Hens walked off with a 4-3 win when Jake Dunion scored on a wild pitch with two outs in the bottom of the ninth at Bob Hannah Stadium on Saturday. After a late-inning rally on Friday to beat the Aggies 8-7, the Blue Hens improved to 19-16 overall and 8-6 in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).
A&T lost its fourth straight CAA game, with the last three by two runs or less, as the Aggies dropped to 14-17 overall and 6-9 in league play.
Dunion led off the home ninth by earning a single off A&T right-handed reliever Trent Simmons (L, 1-1). Dunion quickly moved into scoring position, 90 feet from winning the game, as teammate Andre Amato singled to center field. The runners advanced to third and second on an error by Aggies center fielder Chris Moss.
The Aggies then intentionally walked pinch-hitter Eric Ludman to load the bases and to put on a force play at home to prevent Delaware from winning the game. The plan appeared effective and almost unnecessary as Simmons got Aidan Kane to strike out looking before JJ Freeman got caught staring at a 2-2 pitch for the innings' second out.
Unfortunately, Simmons unleashed a wild pitch when facing Dan Covino, allowing Dunion to cross the plate and win the game. Delaware's walk-off win also doubled as a come-from-behind win for the Blue Hens.
The Aggies grabbed a 2-0 lead in the third as Delaware starter and RHP Joey Silan hit A&T shortstop Sabin Roane with a 1-2 pitch. Moss then scored Roane by doubling down the left field line.
Moss moved to third on an infield single from left fielder Michael Logan, and Moss scored on a balk by Silan as Logan advanced to second. After a strikeout, Logan moved to third on a groundout, but the inning ended with Logan getting caught stealing home.
The Aggies claimed a 3-0 lead in their fifth thanks to a two-out rally. Third baseman Cort Maynard started things with a two-out double down the left field line before designated hitter Camden Jackson hit an RBI single to right, scoring Maynard. Maynard moved to second on a passed ball and third on Freeman's error at shortstop. After a walk and a stolen base by catcher Canyon Brown, the inning ended on a Tre Williams groundout.
RHP and starter Xavier Meachem held things down for the Aggies until the sixth inning. Meachem pitched five scoreless innings before running into trouble in the sixth inning, where the Blue Hens plated three with a solo home run from Kane and a two-run homer from Covino before Simmons replaced him.
Meachem posted seven K's before leaving the game. Simmons went 3 2/3 innings, striking out five before the Dunion's game-winning run. Owen Margolis (W, 4-0) pitched the final two scoreless innings for the Blue Hens, surrendering two hits.
Right fielder Shemar Dalton extended his hitting streak to seven games by going 2-fo-4. Meanwhile, TJ Ash reached base for the fifth consecutive game with a single, and Jackson went 2-for-4 with an RBI. The series finale is Sunday at 1 p.m.
