TROY, Ala. – Baseball lasts nine innings, but the FAMU baseball team on Wednesday did all its damage in one inning. The Rattlers (20-23, 15-9 MEAC) scored six runs in the first inning and quickly and held on to shutout Troy (26-23, 14-10 Sun Belt) on the road 6-0.
FAMU starter Ricky Page (1-0) pitched a gem for his first win of the season as he worked five scoreless innings and scattered three hits with one strikeout and one walk. Page faced just two batters over the minimum in the win.
FAMU out-hit Troy 8-5 as Logan Seymour led the Rattlers going 2-for-3 at the plate.
The Rattlers scored all their runs in the opening frame as they recorded six runs on six hits and sent 11 batters to the plate, while jumping out to a 6-0 lead. Michael Birdsong recorded his fifth home run of the season to end the scoring outburst in the first. Jared Walker led off by reaching on catcher’s interference, stole second and went to third on Alec Wong’s infield single. Ryan Kennedy started the scoring when he belted a two-run double into left center as Walker and Wong both were able to score. Runners would then be on first and second after Kennedy was held at second base on AJ Elkins single to the shortstop. Brian Davis would follow by reaching on a fielder’s choice as an errant throw to second trying to catch Elkins allowed Kennedy to come around and score. Birdsong then crushed a three-run shot over the 30’ wall in left field to cap the scoring.
Troy starter Corey Childress (3-5) gave up all six runs (four earned) on six hits in the first inning, while only recording two outs. Childress faced 10 batters and threw 24 pitches in the top of the first inning.
The FAMU bullpen held Troy to just two hits over the final four innings with a combined four strikeouts and two walks.
Florida A&M will be off until next week’s MEAC Baseball Tournament in Salisbury, MD. The Rattlers first tournament game will be on Wednesday night, May 13, at 7:30 PM and face the winner of the UMES vs. South #3 Seed. The South #3 seed will be determined after this Saturday’s North Carolina A&T at North Carolina Central game. If NC Central wins, they will become the South #3 seed. If they lose, Savannah State will make the Tournament as the #3 seed from the MEAC Southern Division.
***FAMU Athletics
