Box Score
GREENSBORO, N.C., April 2, 2018 – Early offense propelled and a stellar bullpen lifted North Carolina A&T State to a 3-2 victory over crosstown rival UNC Greensboro Monday night at UNCG Baseball Stadium. The Aggies (14-14) won their fifth straight by holding the Spartans (20-7) to five hits by using four pitchers.
Aggies pitching held the Spartans hitless over the final three innings.
The Aggies won for the eighth time over UNCG in 51 tries.
“Great team win tonight,” said N.C. A&T coach Ben Hall, who improved to 2-3 against UNCG all-time. “I am proud of the guys. They played outstanding defense and pitched it all night. That's a very good ballclub over there and that was a great ballgame. I am really proud of Jay (James) Rorie for stepping in there and giving us a jolt of energy early with a big swing. The bullpen did a great job of competing though it was a tough lineup to pitch against.”
The Aggies offense got off to an aggressive start with senior A.J. Hunt hitting his second triple of the season, a shot to right field in the first inning. He was stranded, but the Aggies kept the offense going in the second with a single by junior Dawnoven Smith. Rorie followed with a two-run home run. It was his first homer of the season.
In the next inning, UNCG benefited from a fielder’s choice RBI by Dillon Stewart for their first run, but the Aggies regained their two-run lead with some smart baserunning in the fifth. With two outs and senior Milton Rivera at the plate, he singled through the left side and advanced to second as Hunt walked. After a pitching change by UNCG, Rivera used a passed ball to move to third and then scored on a wild pitch to extend the Aggies lead to 3-1.
Sophomore relief pitcher Leon Davidson replaced starter senior Josh Owneby after Owenby pitched a three-hitter over five innings. UNCG had two hits and scored a run in the sixth to cut N.C. A&T's lead to 3-2. Junior Leon Hunter pitched a no-hit seventh inning before senior closer Josh Bottenfield earned his second save of the season tossing the final two scoreless innings.
Bottenfield kept the Spartans off the bases by striking out one with no hits or walks to lower his ERA to 1.59 for the season. N.C. A&T is 7-5 in one-run games this season. The Aggies are also 7-1 when holding their opponents to two runs or less.
Smith had his first three-hit game of the season by going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Rivera and Hunt both finished with two hits while Rorie had his second two-RBI game of the season. Owenby (2-0) got the win.