BOILING SPRINGS, NC – With opening weekend in the past, North Carolina A&T took their talents to a familiar in-state opponent. The Aggies improved to 4-0 with a 9-2 win over Gardner-Webb University at John Henry Moss Stadium, pushing their win streak over the Runnin' Bulldogs to three.
A&T broke the game open a close game in the visitor's ninth with a massive seven-run inning. A&T led 2-1 heading into the ninth before batting around, beginning with senior Chet Sikes walking and ending with him doubling before being thrown out at third, trying to stretch the extra-base hit into a triple.
Between Sikes' at-bats, the Aggies produced four hits and benefited from an error off GWU relievers Creighton Hansen (L, 0-1) and Bryan Pazos. After graduate Tatsunori Ngeishi's bunt sacrifice moved Sikes to second, senior outfielder, Michael Logan scored Sikes on an RBI double to right before moving to third on a wild pitch. Senior outfielder TJ Ash reached on an error to score Logan before back-to-back walks to freshman JT Taylor and junior AJ Jones loaded the bases with two outs.
Junior left fielder Tre Williams then delivered the biggest blow in the inning with a two-run single, scoring Talyor and Ash to give A&T a 6-1 advantage. Junior catcher Canyon Brown added another run with an RBI single to score Jones before Williams scored on a passed ball. A&T concluded its seven-run ninth with Sikes' double to score Brown.
Angel Ortiz slammed the door on the Bulldogs, striking out the side. The Aggie pitching staff ended the game with 13 strikeouts, and the offense produced 10 hits.
A&T coaches gave senior right-handed pitcher Avery Cain the nod to start the game. In his first career start at A&T, he made quick work in the first inning. Cain battled around a one-out single to center field by Mark Black by getting Alec Burns to ground into a double play. Cain had another quick two innings, only allowing one base runner. He exited the game during the fourth inning with a final line of 3.1 innings pitched, surrendering two hits and striking out four.
A&T's offense came out swinging the bats well but could not score early. Williams scorched a ball in the first inning for a single and was thrown out at second trying to stretch his hit into a double. In the fourth inning, Jones reached base with a single to right. Brown walked with one out, but Sikes flew out to center, and Ngeishi struck out, stranding both runners to keep the game scoreless.
A&T broke through during the fifth, tacking two runs on the board. Logan led the inning off with a rocketed double down the left-field line. Ash kept the rally going with a single to left. GWU threw Logan out at the plate, attempting to score on a ground ball to third base by junior Enrique Wood to prevent A&T from scoring again. But Taylor showed his mature approach at the plate, doubling to left to score Ash. Jones also picked up an RBI, grounding out to second to bring home Wood.
Junior RHP Trent Simmons came in relief for the Aggies, looking to continue the excellent pitching. He threw one inning, striking out two Bulldog hitters, and gave up an unearned run to tighten the game at 2-1. It was much of the same for seniors Jake Delisi and Justin Poris as they combined for 2.2 innings, allowing three hits and no runs, keeping the game locked at 2-1. Coaches called on senior pitcher Connor Blantz (W, 1-0) for the eighth inning. He allowed a home run to Peter Capobianco to open the frame, knotting the game at 2-2, but recovered by striking out the side to complete his inning, setting up A&T's enormous ninth inning.
Williams led the Aggies by going 2-for-5 with two RBI. Logan doubled twice and drove in a run. The Aggies look to stay hot as they travel to Vero Beach, Fla., to play in the Andre Dawson Classic, starting with a noon game on Friday against Prairie View A&M.
