North Carolina A&T advance to semifinal Saturday as they defeated Florida A&M 11-5, in quarterfinal action, Friday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Park in the 2009 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament.

 

NCAT (19-31) finished the game with 14 hits.  Xavier Macklin, Marquis Riley and Lester Rivenbark recorded three hits apiece for the Aggies.

 

FAMU garnered seven hits with Steve Cunningham finishing with a team high three hits.

 

Nick Oelker (2-7) picked up the win for the Aggies, giving up five hits, one earned run and striking out four in four and two-third innings of relief.

 

Anthony Espin (6-9) took the loss for the Rattlers, allowing 14 hits, nine earned runs and striking out nine in nine innings.

 

North Carolina A&T struck first in the top of the first as George Hines scored on a C.J. Beatty single right center.  A Nick Rogers sacrifice fly to left field would score Macklin, then Beatty would score on a Chris Mullins single to give the Aggies a 3-0 lead.

 

The Aggies increased their lead in the top of the second on a bases loaded walk scoring Riley.  A Beatty two-run single to center field scored both Howard and Rivenbark.  Macklin would score the North Carolina A&T’s final run on the inning on a Rogers’ sacrifice fly to right field, giving the Aggies a 7-0 lead.

 

North Carolina A&T padded their lineup in the top of the fourth on a Macklin solo homer to left field, making the score 8-0 in favor of the Aggies. 

 

FAMU got on the board in the bottom of the fifth as Adam Gordon scored on a Jared Jeffries sacrifice fly to center field, making the score 8-1.

 

A Rogers’ solo blast to left field, followed by a Rivenbark single to right center scoring Cyril Daniel, increased the Aggies’ lead to 10-1 in the top of the seventh.

 

FAMU would take advantage of a North Carolina A&T infielder’s error to score Cunningham, who recorded a two-out triple in his at-bat appearance.  Tim Schalch and Jared Jeffries both scored on an Evans triple to left field.  Then Evans scored on a Derrick Shaw single to left field, cutting the Aggies lead to 10-5, in the bottom of the seventh.

 

The Aggies would push across another run in the top of the ninth for the 11-5 final.

 

Admission for the 2009 MEAC Baseball Championship is $8 for adults and $4 for children ages four and older, students and senior citizens. Ticket prices for the entire tournament are $20 for adults and $10 for children ages four and older, students and senior citizens.  Children ages three (3) and under are admitted free. Tickets are available at the Jackie Robinson Ballpark, 105 E Orange Ave, Daytona Beach, Florida beginning on May 14.

 

For more information on MEAC Baseball, logo on to www.meacsports.com.