WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – North Carolina A&T rallied to tie its Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) baseball game against the William & Mary University Tribe in the seventh inning, but a few miscues allowed the Tribe to eventually prevail 6-5 Saturday evening at Plumeri Park.

The Aggies fell to 4-17 overall and 2-6 in league play after the tough loss. Jett Humphreys led the Tribe with a 2-for-4 day and an RBI. He also got the pitching win, helping his team improve to 9-12 overall and 2-3 in the CAA.

A&T came into the seventh inning trailing 4-3 after WMU scored in the bottom of the sixth inning on a sacrifice bunt. But to open the seventh, WMU right-handed pitcher Charlie Seneker hit freshman Adrian Gonzalez with the first pitch of the frame. Seneker then walked junior Marcus Bradshaw, putting two Aggies on with no outs. WMU then moved Humphreys (W, 1-0) from third base to the mound to face sophomore Reginald Tuggle III.

Tuggle hit into a fielder's choice, eliminating Gonzalez from the base paths, but keeping runners at first and second with one out. That led to senior Nick DiCarlo extending his hitting streak to 11 straight games as he ripped a single through the right side to score Bradshaw and tie the game 4-4. DiCarlo has reached base safely in 13 straight games. A&T tried to keep the rally going as Humphreys walked sophomore Tyler Smith on four pitches to load the bases.

However, Humphreys struck out sophomore Savoi Ewards and got sophomore JT Taylor to pop out, ending the threat. A&T opened the home half of the seventh with graduate RHP Kobie Cushing (L, 0-1) on the mound. Cushing ran into trouble early. Trey Christman walked, and Witt Scafidi reached on an error. Charlie Iriotakis laid down a bunt that Smith picked up from his catcher's position.
Smith's throwing error let Christman give the Tribe the lead. This play moved Scafidi to third and Iriotakis to second with nobody out. Cushing settled in and struck out Anthony Greco. But a wild pitch scored Scafidi and gave the Tribe a 6-4 advantage. Cushing recovered and got Louie Bartelli to pop out and Humphreys to ground out, ending the inning.

Unfortunately, the Tribe's two additional runs in the seventh proved enough for the win despite senior Andrew Tinsley hitting his second homer of the season, a solo shot to left field in the eighth inning. Tinsley is 4-for-11 in his last three games with two home runs and three RBIs. His homer cut the Tribe's lead to 6-5. RHP Connor Jernigan (S, 1), who replaced Humphreys to open the visitors' eighth inning, gave up a one-out walk to DiCarlo in the top of the ninth. However, Jernigan got Smith to hit into a fielder's choice and Edwards to strike out, securing the Tribe a 2-0 series lead.

Taylor led A&T with a 2-for-4 afternoon. Gonzalez drove in two runs. Edwards put A&T on the scoreboard first by doubling to left-center for an RBI. WMU took the lead in the second inning by scoring two runs. The Aggies rallied in the visitors' fourth. Walks to Tinsley and junior Boaz Harper put Gonzalez in position for a two-run double, giving the Aggies a 3-2 advantage. WMU answered with single runs in the fifth and sixth, setting up the pivotal seventh inning.

A&T will try to avoid the series sweep on Sunday when the two teams play Game 3 at Plumeri Park at 1 p.m.