Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
GREENSBORO, NC – North Carolina A&T swept a doubleheader from visiting NJIT, 4-0 and 12-0, Saturday afternoon in the 2011 baseball season opener for the Highlanders at War Memorial Stadium.
North Carolina A&T (3-4) tacked on a run in the first two and last two innings of their 4-0 win in Saturday's first game and rolled to 10 runs in the first two innings of their 12-0 win in the nightcap.
The Aggies gave left-handed pitcher Esterlin Paulino (2-0), a two-run cushion, scoring once in each of the first two innings off of NJIT starter Tripp Davis, (0-1).
North Carolina A&T's first run of the game came on a ground out to second with the bases loaded. Marquis Riley's grounder knocked in Xaver Macklin, who reached base on a single to third.
The home team struck again in the bottom of the second, with two outs, on an RBI single to right field by CF Andre McKoy. McKoy drove home Mark Nales, who also singled to right field.
Esterlin, the Aggies pitcher, tossed a complete nine-inning shutout, giving up three hits while fanning nine Highlanders and allowing one walk.
Davis, NJIT's left-handed pitcher, allowed three runs in six plus innings of work striking out six batters. Sophomore Kyle Burdi pitched the final 1.2 innings giving up two hits and one run facing eight batters.
North Carolina A&T's 2B Riley went 3-for-5 with two singles and one double, driving in two runs. Two Aggies drove in one run apiece, as CF McKoy and SS Luke Tendler each went 2-for-5.
NJIT's three hits were all singles, two of which came from senior SS Matt Tomczyk, who finished 2-for-4, batting at the top of the order. 2B Vincent Del Vecchio recorded the Highlanders' other hit in the bottom of the second with a single up the middle. Del Vecchio finished 1-for-3.
The Aggies jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first two innings of the nightcap and added one run in the fourth and fifth innings for a 12-0 win.
The winning pitcher for North Carolina A&T was Nick Oelker (1-1), who pitched a complete seven-inning game scattering two hits while striking out nine Highlanders.
NJIT starting pitcher, sophomore Mark Leiter took the loss (0-1) and was relieved by sophomore RHP Frank Shivers. Shivers allowed three hits and two runs through three innings before handing the ball to senior John Prestano. Prestano pitched the fifth inning scattering two hits while freshman Zach Emmett made his college debut on the mound in the sixth inning facing four batters and striking out one.
Nales, the Aggies third baseman, drove in four runs, finishing the second game 3-for-4. 2B Riley knocked in three runs, hitting 2-for-3 with one run. RF Macklin went 1-for-2 with two runs, two runs batted in and two walks. Three different Aggies posted two hits apiece.
NJIT's two hits came from the bats of 2B Del Vecchio and 1B Tyler Kapp. Kapp, who made his college debut at first base in game one, notched his first collegiate hit on a single up the middle in the second. Del Vecchio had a single down the left field line in the seventh.
The Highlanders and North Carolina A&T are scheduled to close out the season series on Sunday, starting at 1:00pm.
