A Thrilling Finish in the CAA
North Carolina A&T survived a late surge from Monmouth to win 10‑9, with sophomore Reginald Tuggle III delivering a clutch two‑run RBI single in the ninth inning that turned a 9‑9 tie into a 11‑9 lead before the final out.
The rally was set up by a three‑run homer from Luis Gomez in the third, which gave the Aggies an early cushion. Diego Barrett then shut down the Hawks with a decisive ninth‑inning performance, preserving the lead after Wyatt Hunt’s second consecutive three‑RBI game kept Monmouth within striking distance.
A&T’s offense was bolstered by a collective effort at the plate. Marcus Bradshaw, Bruce Wyche, Andrew Tinsley and DiCarlo each collected two hits, while Aidan Bretschneider and RJ Mustaro added key singles that moved runners into scoring position. Kristian Amaro’s defensive gem in the seventh inning also prevented a potential game‑tying rally.
The series will conclude on Saturday at 2 p.m. at MU Baseball field, where the rubber game will decide the final outcome. Fans can expect another tightly contested matchup as the Aggies look to extend their recent dominance over top CAA opponents.