VERO BEACH, Fla. – Following a close loss yesterday in its opening game of the Andre Dawson Classic, the North Carolina A&T baseball team responded with an 8-2 win over the Southern University Jaguars at Holman Stadium on Saturday. The win improves A&T to 5-1.
The game unfolded with a series of thrilling plays, demonstrating the competitive spirit of both teams. The Jaguars took the offensive in the top of the first inning. The Aggies started right-handed pitcher Diego Barrett.
He faced two runners in scoring position after a pitch hit Quincy Smith II, and Tyeler Hawkins doubled. However, the Aggies managed to stifle Southern's scoring attempt, keeping them off the board as junior shortstop Enrique Wood threw out Smith II at home plate, and Barrett struck out Donny Sandifer. Both teams showcased their defensive prowess, preventing any significant scoring opportunities.
A&T scored first as junior catcher Canyon Brown led off the second inning by being hit by a pitch by Southern starter RHP Antoine Harris. Senior Chet Sikes quickly followed with a scorched line drive through the left side for a base hit, advancing Brown to third. Brown scored on a wild pitch by Harris.
Southern had a response in the visitor's third. Logan Sanders singled up the middle and moved to second on a ground out and to third on a wild pitch. Khyle Radcliffe then singled up the middle to score Sanders and tie the game at 1-1.
After each team scored in the fifth to keep the game tied, A&T seized control in the sixth inning. With a flurry of hits and strategic base running, A&T surged ahead, capitalizing on Southern's defensive lapses to take a commanding lead.
With Sikes standing on third and Ash at second with one out, senior outfielder Michael Logan singled into right field, scoring Sikes, who reached by a walk. Wood picked up another RBI with a sacrifice fly to score Ash, who walked, to push the Aggies lead to 4-2 against Southern reliever Jaden Brasseaux (L, 0-1).
An RBI sac fly by Ash in the seventh gave the Aggies a three-run lead before a gigantic two-run triple in the eighth from Brown scored two. Brown also scored on the play thanks to a throwing error, giving the Aggies an 8-2 advantage.
Barrett pitched five innings, only allowing two runs and striking out four. Junior RHP Trent Simmons (W, 1-0) came in relief for the sixth inning and made quick work of Southern University. He finished an excellent outing without allowing a single base runner in three innings pitched, striking out one.
Southern University fought valiantly to mount a comeback in the later innings, but A&T's pitching and defense proved too formidable to overcome. Senior RHP Angel Ortiz continued where Simmons left off, attacking the Southern batters and preventing the Jaguars from gaining any late momentum.
The Aggies look to finish strong in the Andre Dawson Classic as they take on Grambling State on Sunday at 10 a.m. The game will be streamed on MLB.com.
