GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T had a difficult day on the diamond against the defending Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) baseball champions on Friday, losing to the Northeastern Huskies 15-0 in seven innings at War Memorial Stadium.
Friday marked A&T's third shutout loss of the season, as the Aggies dropped to 10-26 overall and 3-13 in CAA play. Three Northeastern pitchers combined for a four-hitter while the Huskies offense produced seven extra-base hits, including two home runs, to improve the team to 21-16 overall and 11-6 in conference play. Northeastern also benefited from 10 walks.
Senior right-hander
Gavin Sentelle (L, 1-6) started for A&T and threw 2.1 innings. Northeastern RHP Robbie O'Connor delivered five scoreless innings, allowed three hits, issued three walks, and struck out five. RHP Jack Cropper tossed one scoreless inning, and RHP James Morice also threw a scoreless inning, allowing one hit. On offense, AJ Aschettino doubled twice, homered, scored twice, and drove in five runs.
Aschettino started the Huskies' offense with a two-run double in the first. Charlie Criscola added a two-run double in the first to cap a four-run opening frame for Northeastern. A couple of Aggie errors in the third allowed two more Huskies to score before Harrison Feinberg hit a two-run home run to right center field, extending the Northeastern lead to 8-0.
After Matt Brinker drove in a run in the fourth with a sacrifice fly, the Huskies secured the 10-run advantage to potentially end the game early under the mercy run rule when Tyler Harmony doubled in another run. The Huskies added five more runs, including Aschettino's three-run homer.
The Aggies will try to even the series on Saturday when they host the Huskies for a 2 p.m. game. Sunday's series finale has been moved from a 1 p.m. start to noon.
