BROOKLINE, Mass. -- The #25 Northeastern Huskies (43-9, 23-2 CAA) used a massive eight-run eighth inning to blow open a close contest as they defeated the North Carolina A&T Aggies (15-35, 9-16 CAA) by a score of 11-2 on Thursday afternoon at Friedman Diamond.

Starting pitcher Will Jones improved to 10-0 on the season with another strong outing, while Jack Goodman (3-for-4, 4 RBI) and Cam Maldonado (1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI) powered the offense in Northeastern's opening game of their final regular-season series.

• After four scoreless innings to open the contest, Northeastern struck in the fifth with a three-run rally. Alex Lane reached on a hit-by-pitch to lead off the inning and advanced to second after Jack Doyle singled, and both runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt from Ryan Gerety. The bases would load up with two outs after a Cam Maldnado hit-by-pitch.
• Harrison Feinberg then delivered an RBI single down the third base line to bring in Lane for the first run of the game and a 1-0 lead.
• Jack Goodman followed with a single up the middle that plated both Doyle and Feinberg, giving the Huskies a 3-0 advantage.
• Starter Will Jones was dominant through the first six innings, allowing just four hits while striking out eight Aggie batters. He departed in the sixth inning after 5.1 innings of scoreless work.
• Charlie Walker came on in relief and maintained the shutout until the eighth inning, when NC A&T broke through with a two-run homer to straightaway center to cut into the lead, 3-2.
• Northeastern responded immediately and emphatically in the bottom of the eighth. Cam Maldonado led off with a walk and advanced to second on a balk. Feinberg followed with a single to shortstop, putting runners at first and third.
• Goodman then delivered his third hit of the day, a two-run single through the left side that scored both Maldonado and Feinberg, extending Northeastern's lead to 5-2.
• After Matt Brinker singled to left and Will Fosberg followed with a single to right field. Fosberg stole second base to put two runners in scoring position.
• Lane came through with a single through the left side, scoring both Brinker and Fosberg to make it 7-2.
• The inning continued with Jack Doyle getting hit by a pitch and both runners advancing on a wild pitch, with Lane scoring for an 8-2 lead. Ryan Gerety drew a walk to keep the line moving.
• Cam Maldonado then delivered the knockout blow, crushing a three-run homer to left center, giving Northeastern an 11-2 lead and completing the eight-run frame.
• Northeastern tallied six of its eight runs in the eighth inning with two outs.
• Brett Dunham pitched a clean ninth inning with two strikeouts to secure Northeastern's 43rd win of the season.
• Northeastern's pitching staff continues to dominate, allowing just two runs while striking out 11 batters. Husky pitchers have now struck out 425 batters on the season.
• The win extends Northeastern's NCAA-leading winning streak to a program-record 22 consecutive games.

The series continues on Friday, May 16 with game two scheduled for 2 p.m. at Friedman Diamond. That game can be seen on FloCollege.