TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 6) - The Florida A&M Baseball team dropped a doubleheader from arch-rival Bethune-Cookman as the Wildcats defeated the Rattlers, 4-1 in game one and 16-3 in game two, here Saturday afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference matchup.
B-CU recorded a game high 10 in the contest as Chris Biocic garnered a team high three hits for the Wildcats, while FAMU finished with six hits with Hunter Barfield finishing with a team high two hits.
Scott Garner (3-4) got the win for the Wildcats as he went the distance, allowing six hits, one earned run and striking out seven in nine innings of works, while David Duncan received the loss for the Rattlers as he pitched seven innings, allowing eight hits, three earned runs and striking out seven in the 30 batters he faced. Brandon Fleming pitched two innings of relief for the Rattlers as he gave up two hits and earned one earned run in the eight batters he faced.
B-CU jumped out a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth as Eric Sams scored on a Biocic single to the left side.
The Wildcats added to their lead in the top of the sixth as Eros Modena scored on Sams single and then Sams would score on a Matt Noble single to the right side, making the score 3-0 in favor of B-CU.
B-CU made the score 4-0 in the top of the eighth as Noble scored on a Biocic triple to right field.
FAMU scored their only run of the game on Marlon Gibbs sacrifice fly to centerfield scoring Jared Walker, for the 4-1 finale.
In game two, B-CU tallied a game high 15 hits, while FAMU garnered eight hits in the contest.
FAMU (2-31, 2-12 MEAC) was led by Reginald Grant and Scott Sheplak from the plate as they both finished with two-hits each for the Rattlers.
B-CU (17-17, 9-5 MEAC) was paced by Sams with four hits, followed by Anthony Stokes and Josh Johnson as they both finished with three hits each.
Christ Waltermire (2-1) got the win for the Wildcats in game two as he pitched three innings in relief, allowing two hits and striking out one in the 11 batters he faced, while Heath Blackman (1-7) got the loss for FAMU as he pitched five and one-third innings, allowing 10 hits, four earned runs and striking out three in the 30 batters he faced.
FAMU grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Grant scored on a Robinson single, followed by a Sheplak single scoring Robinson.
B-CU cut FAMU’s lead to 2-1 in the top of the third inning as Brandon Turner scored on a Sams single to left field.
The Wildcat tied the contest at 2-2 as P.J. Biocic scored on a FAMU throwing error in top of the fourth inning.
FAMU regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as Sheplak scored on a Gibbs sacrifice fly to right field scoring Sheplak, who doubled down the left field line to lead off the inning, giving the Rattlers a 3-2 lead.
B-CU would then erupt in the sixth and seventh inning as they scored seven runs in each of the innings for the 16-3 finale.
FAMU will return to action on Sunday, April 7 as they will conclude their three-game series against Bethune-Cookman at Moore-Kittles Field in a 1 p.m. start
