TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Despite leaving 15 runners on base the Rattlers offense came through eventually in the 7th inning on its way to an 8-3 win. Florida A&M (11-15, 7-5 MEAC) scored five runs in the seventh inning on its way to an 8-3 win over North Carolina A&T (3-21, 1-10 MEAC) at Moore-Kittles Field on Sunday. Rattler reliever Kendal Weeks (3-2) recorded a career-high six strikeouts while pitching the final five scoreless innings with two hits and one walk for the win. AJ Elkins, Ryan Kennedy, Jeremy Barlow and Peter Jackson each had two hits on the day for FAMU.A&T walked 13 batters in the game and had three balks from the pitching staff.
The Aggies scored quickly with a run in the top of the first inning for a 1-0 lead. Timothy Ravare singled up the middle with one out and went to third on a hit-and-run as Kyle Clary singled into left center. Ravare then scored from third for the first run of the game when Brandon Wilkerson grounded out to first. FAMU would tie the game at 1-1 with a run in the home half of the second inning. Kennedy led off the bottom of the second with a single up the middle and took third as the shortstop misplayed a grounder from Michael Birdsong. Jeremy Barlow’s infield RBI single then scored Kennedy from third to tie the game.
However NC A&T came right back with two more runs in the 4th inning to take a 3-1 lead. Wilkerson singled up the middle to start the fourth and moved to second on a wild pitch before coming home to score as Erik Montero reached on an error from Elkins. Montero advanced to second on Elkins throw home and Adan Ordonez was hit-by-pitch as runners were now on first and second with no outs. After a strikeout by AJ Hunt, Ryan Jantsch’s RBI single to right plated Montero for the second run of the inning.
The Rattlers got a run back in the bottom of the fourth as Alec Wong walked with the bases loaded to make the score 3-2. With two outs, Barlow singled to left while Jackson and Logan Seymour each drew a walk to load the bases. Dylan Hipp came in to relieve starter B Smith and Wong then walked on five pitches to bring home Barlow.
Florida A&M tied the game again at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Marlon Gibbs drew his second walk of the game to start the fifth and went to second on a balk. Kennedy then reached on a walk while the wild pitch allowed Gibbs to advance to third. Robbie Jolley would come in to pinch hit for Brian Davis and put down a beautiful sac bunt up the first base line that allowed Gibbs to score the tying run from third.
FAMU broke open the game for a final score of 8-3 with five runs in the seventh inning. AJ Elkins and Kennedy each had RBI singles in the inning while Gibbs added a sac fly.
NC A&T reliever Joshua Thompson never recorded an out and was the losing pitcher for the Aggies. He gave up three runs (two earned) in the seventh inning.
The Rattlers will next face Jacksonville on Tuesday, March 31 at Moore-Kittles Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 PM.
***FAMU Athletics
