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Mercer rallies to defeat Rattlers

Posted at 10:31 PM, Feb 18, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-18 22:31:01-05

TALLAHASSEE, Fl. — The Florida A&M University baseball team held the lead for seven innings, but could not hold off Mercer as the Bears pounded out 17 hits in a 7-5 victory on Tuesday night at Moore-Kittles Field.

Florida A&M (1-1) got a pair of RBIs by Tucker Rayburn and used rode the arms of Kyle Coleman, Chandellor Benton, Zach Morea and Jeremiah McCollum before falling to the visiting Bears.

How It Happened
Mercer (4-0) began the scoring with one run in the top of the first inning, but Florida A&M answered with three runs on three hits and took advantage of a Bears error to grab a 3-1 lead.

LJ Bryant began the frame with a walk and moved to second on a balk. With one down, Tucker Rayburn reached on error. Jared Weber, who accounted for three RBIs in Monday's win over South Florida, belted a double to center, scoring Bryant and Rayburn stopped at third. Grant Rowell followed with a ground out to third as Rayburn scored and Tristen Cooper followed with a base hit to center to plate Weber.

The Rattlers added to the lead with two more runs in the bottom of the second.

With one down in the inning, Bryant reached on an infield single and moved to second on an Octavien Moyer base hit to left Both runners came across to score on a double to deep center by Rayburn, giving Florida A&M a 5-1 advantage.

Mercer answered in the top half of the third with three runs on five hits, closing the gap to 5-4.

The Bears, who stranded 17 on base in the nine-inning game, plated the tying run in the eighth and scored the go-ahead runs on a two-RBI double down the left field line by Jordan Ammons in the ninth.

Inside the Numbers
> Florida A&M finished with five runs on eight hits, committed two errors and stranded nine on base

> Octavien Moyer, Jared Weber and Tristen Cooper each recorded two hits

> Tucker Rayburn led the way by driving in a pair of runs

> Kyle Coleman started on the hill, but did not figure into the decision. He gave up four runs on 10 hits and fanned five in four innings

> Chandellor Benton, Zach Morea and Jeremiah McCollum pitched in relief

> Zach Morea (0-1) took the loss as he surrendered two runs on two hits in 1.2 innings of work

> Mercer finished with seven runs on 17 hits, committed three errors and left 17 on base

> Angelo DiSpigna and Brandon Michie each registered three hits

> Beau Healy started on the mound and worked just one inning as he gave up three runs (one earned) on two hits, with one walk

> Will Bowdoin, Garrett Mathes and Luke Sutko each worked in relief

> Luke Sutko earned the win in two innings of relief as he struck out one and surrendered just one hit

Schedule Change
> Florida A&M was set to participate in the Jackie Robinson Tournament in Jackson, Miss. this weekend, but heavy rains and flooding have cancelled the tournament as FAMU was set to take on Alcorn State, Jackson State and Southern
> The Rattlers and Southern are looking to meet in Baton Rouge, La. for a weekend series and a decision could be made as late as Wednesday evening about the series

Up Next
Florida A&M concludes its two-game home series with Mercer on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Moore-Kittles Field.