Nick Rogers laced a bases loaded double to center field in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift North Carolina A&T past Florida A&M, 6-5 in the second round of the 2008 MEAC Baseball Championship Tournament at Marty L. Miller Field Friday afternoon.

The heartbreaking loss drops FAMU (20-21) into the loser’s bracket, putting them in survival mode for the remainder of the tournament.

The Rattlers will face the winner of Friday evening’s elimination affair between Delaware State and Norfolk State, Saturday at 10 a.m., while North Carolina A&T (29-28) advances to face top-seeded Bethune-Cookman (34-20) in Saturday’s winner’s bracket final at 2 p.m.

The winner of that B-CU-A&T game moves on to Sunday’s title game, which begins at 2:00 p.m.

FAMU actually outhit the Aggies, 17-10, led by Jared Jeffries with four hits, Steve Cunningham with three hits and an RBI, Corey McFadden with three hits and Tim Schlach with two hits and three runs driven in.

Rogers led the Aggies’ 10-hit attack with three hits and a trio of runs driven in including the two in the ninth inning. Christian Beatty and Joe McIntire also had two hits for A&T Friday.

Miguel Parga (5-3) took the loss on the hill for FAMU, working eight innings, scattering 10 hits, but yielding six runs with four strikeouts and five walks.

John Primus (6-4) picked up his second win in relief in the tournament on Friday, working four innings, giving up three runs on seven hits with two strikeouts. He held FAMU scoreless over the final two innings, after coming on in the sixth in relief of starter Chris Rogers.

The Aggies scored a run in the first and two more in the fourth to build a 3-0 lead, but the Rattlers scored twice in the fifth and sixth to barge ahead 4-3.

Both clubs scored a run in the seventh to move the score to 5-4, setting the stage for the Aggies’ game-winning rally in the ninth.

Jeremy Jones led off the Aggie ninth with a walk, followed by a C.J. Beatty double. McIntire was intentionally walked to load the bases, then Rogers lifted a double just beyond the reach of center fielder Darryl Evans, who chased the drive toward deep center, which drove in Jones and Beatty.

MEAC TOURNAMENT UPDATE: Delaware State was slated to face host Norfolk State in a 6 p.m. elimination game Friday evening.... Norfolk State eliminated Maryland-Eastern Shore, 7-2 in the first game on Friday..... FAMU would have to win Saturday morning’s game, then again Saturday evening at 6 p.m. against the loser of the B-CU/A&T game for a chance at reaching Sunday’s title round, where they would have to win twice to capture the crown.