GREENSBORO – Tuesday night marked a historic night at a historic ballpark for a historic program like North Carolina A&T's. The Aggies hosted the No. 1 team in the nation, a team that played for the national championship last season in the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at War Memorial Stadium.
The occasion added to the many moments from the more than 100-year A&T program. But even with all the excitement around hosting No. 1, the Aggies wanted to send their guest home with a loss. But it did not work out that way, as the Demon Deacons utilized 11 walks and five A&T errors to earn a 12-1 win.
Wake used a throwing error in the first innings to score its first two runs. A&T right-handed starter Avery Cain (L, 0-1) hit the first batter he faced in Marek Houston before Adam Tellier doubled to put runners at third and second. A&T junior catcher Canyon Brown attempted to pick off Houston at third, but his throw went wide, giving Wake a 2-0 lead.
In the visitor's second, Wake opened the inning with two straight doubles and a two-run homer from Jack Winnay to take a 5-0 lead. Tellier added another RBI double to put the Demon Deacons ahead by six. Wake later loaded the bases, and Houston scored as the Aggies could not turn a double play to end the inning with Wake leading 7-0.
The Demon Deacons added a run in the fourth before the Aggies put up a run in the home fifth. A&T junior shortstop Enrique Wood led off the frame by laying down a bunt single off Wake starter Haiden Leffew (W, 1-0). Wood moved to second on a Leffew wild pitch before a Shemar Dalton groundout advanced Wood to third.
Junior second baseman Tre Williams drove in the Aggies' only run of the evening with an RBI sacrifice fly to center field to score Wood, cutting Wake's lead to 8-1. Leffew's night ended after getting A&T graduate first baseman Tatsunori Negishi to fly out to left. Leffew went five innings, gave up two hits on one run, and posted five strikeouts.
A&T had some solid outings from some of its bullpen members. Junior RHP Isaiah Brewington pitched two innings without giving up a hit, even though he walked three and surrendered a run. Senior RHP Jake Delisi pitched a scoreless fourth, striking out two and walking two. Junior RHP Trent Simmons pitched two scoreless innings, striking out three and giving up only one hit.
The Demon Deacons did add a run in the seventh and three in the ninth. A&T put together three hits on Tuesday, including two doubles from Shemar Dalton. The Aggies return to War Memorial this weekend, March 1-3, to face Eastern Illinois. They will play the Panthers at 4 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday.
