NEWARK, Del. – North Carolina A&T powered six home runs out of the ballpark and used a stellar ninth inning to earn a vital road win over the University of Delaware (UD) Blue Hens 16-9 in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) baseball action Friday night at Bob Hannah Stadium.
The Aggies totaled nine extra-base hits to improve to 13-23 overall and 8-5 in the CAA. The Aggies will enter tomorrow's 2 p.m. game at Hannah Stadium in second place by their lonesome. UD got two home runs and four RBIs from Evan Bouldin but dropped to 19-17 overall and 6-7 in league play.
UD received a two-run homer from Evan Bouldin off A&T senior right-hand reliever Jacob Halford in the home eighth inning to bring the Blue Hens to within two runs at 11-9. But the Aggies would give Halford all the run support he needed in the visitor's ninth.
Freshman Savoi Edwards led off the frame with a triple against UD LHP Jake Pollaro before Pollaro walked senior Kristian Amaro with one out. Senior Enrique Wood brought home the first run of the inning with a single before junior Nick DiCarlo followed with another RBI single to give the Aggies a 13-9 lead.
Pollaro loaded the bases by walking freshman Bruce Wyche on four straight pitches. Pollaro then tossed a wild pitch, allowing Wood to score to give the Aggies a five-run lead. After Pollaro walked freshman Tyler Smith, UD replaced Pollaro with RHP Christian Colmery. Colmery's 1-2 pitch to A&T freshman JT Taylor was roped into left field for an RBI single.
Sophomore Jason Campo grounded out, leading to Wyche scoring to give the Aggies a 16-9 lead. Edwards struck out to end the frame, leading to Halford finishing off the Blue Hens in the ninth. A hit by pitch and a two-out single from Brett Lesher put runners at first and second for the Blue Hens.
But Lesher was called out for interference to end the game. Halford pitched 2 2/3 innings, striking out four. Senior RHP Angel Ortiz (W, 6-2) got the start, going 6 1/3 and striking out two.
Taylor homered twice and went 3-for-6 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Smith also homered. In addition, he walked three times and drove in two runs. Senior AJ Jones had the Aggies' first home run of the game, a two-run shot in the first inning to give the Aggies a 2-0 lead. The Blue Hens answered in their first with a two-run double from Aiden Stewart and a two-run homer from Bouldin to take a 4-2 lead.
Bouldin also homered in the third before the Aggies scored 11 unanswered runs, which included two solo home runs from Taylor, and a solo homer apiece from Edwards and Amaro. Smith added a two-run blast in the sixth inning before the Blue Hens scored twice in their eighth.
