WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Sophomore
Reginald Tuggle III delivered a clutch two-run RBI single, sparking a decisive four-run ninth inning for the visiting North Carolina A&T baseball team.
Graduate right-handed pitcher
Diego Barrett (W, 3-2) stifled a home ninth-inning rally to help propel the Aggies past the Monmouth Hawks, 10-9, at MU Baseball Field on Friday afternoon. The win marks the second time in three games the Aggies have toppled one of the top teams in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA).
On Sunday, the Aggies toppled the No. 2 team in the CAA South, the UNC Wilmington Seahawks. A&T's victory over the No. 2 team in the CAA North boosted them to 14-37 overall and 5-24 in league play. Despite Wyatt Hunt producing his second consecutive three-RBI game, Monmouth slipped to 28-21 overall and 19-10 in league play.
In the sixth, Monmouth's Aidan Bretschneider punched an RBI single to trim A&T's lead to 6-5. RJ Mustaro then smashed a two-run homer to hand Monmouth a 7-6 advantage. Other than a double from junior
Marcus Bradshaw in the seventh, the Aggies could not deliver offensively in the seventh and eighth innings. But the ninth was different.
DiCarlo singled to ignite the frame. He advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch, and the Aggies bolstered their rally when sophomore
Bruce Wyche battled through seven pitches to earn a walk against RHP Austin Beard. Senior
Andrew Tinsley's sacrifice bunt pushed DiCarlo and Wyche to second and third for Bradshaw.
Monmouth swapped Beard for LHP Jake Danyluk (L, 0-2). Danyluk fanned Bradshaw for the first out, but then issued a walk to senior
Luis Gomez to load the bases. Danyluk's control wavered further when he walked sophomore
JT Taylor, forcing in the tying run, DiCarlo. Tuggle then strode to the plate for one of the game's most pivotal moments.
Tuggle ripped a single to right field. The hit plated Taylor and Gomez. Monmouth right fielder RJ Mustaro mishandled the ball, allowing Wyche to dash home and extend the Aggies' lead to 10-7 entering the bottom of the ninth. The Hawks threatened A&T in the final frame.
With one out, Barrett plunked Chris Walsh with his second pitch. Walsh stole second, setting up Hunt's RBI single to left to slash A&T's lead to two. Hunt advanced to second on the throw home, triggering another Hawks run. Simmi Whitehill's RBI single to left brought the Hawks within one, 10-9, and placed the game-winning run at the plate.
Barrett steadied himself. He forced Brendan Buecker to ground into a fielder's choice, erasing Whitehill for the second out. The game concluded when Aggies catcher
Kristian Amaro gunned down pinch runner Will Fahey attempting to steal second base.
Tuggle headlined the Aggies by going 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Gomez blasted a three-run home run in the third inning, his first of the season. Bradshaw, Wyche, Tinsley, and DiCarlo notched two hits apiece, with Bradshaw driving in two runs, and Wyche, Tinsley, and DiCarlo each crossing the plate twice. The rubber game of the series is set for Saturday at MU Baseball field, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.
