TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida A&M (18-9, 8-1 MEAC) held on to beat North Carolina Central (13-17, 5-7 MEAC) by a score of 6-4 at Moore-Kittles Field on Sunday. The Eagles scored a run on a bases loaded walk in the ninth inning and still had the bases loaded as Tyler Reker was able to get Thomas Prospero to fly out to right field to end the game. Brian Davis (2-for-5) had two RBI and Willis McDaniel also had a multi-hit performance as he went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Kendal Weeks earned his first win of the season after working 2.2 innings of relief with one run on one hit, one strikeout and one walk.
FAMU starter Chase Jarrell had a nice outing as he allowed just two runs as the Eagles scattered eight hits in 5.1 innings of work with one strikeout and one walk. Reker who picked up his first career save, recorded the final out in the top of the ninth inning with the bases loaded.
Alec Wong (0-for-1) scored a run, but was walked three times on the day and hit-by-pitch.
The Rattlers scored first, in the first inning, on a two-run double from Brian Davis for an early 2-0 lead. Wong was hit-by-pitch with one out and a double from Dylan Dillard put runners on second and third. Davis then followed with a two-run double just inside the first base bag down the right line to score Wong and Dillard.
NC Central cut the lead in half with a single run in the top of the fourth inning to make the score 2-1. Zachary Marszal and Conrad Kocalcik led off with back-to-back singles. Prospero then advanced both runners with a sac bunt. After a great play by Ben Ellzey on a diving stop at third base for the second out, Jacobi Harris singled through the left side to score Marszal.
NCCU would tie the game at 2-2 with a single run in the sixth inning. Kovalcik led off with a walk and moved to second on a groundout by Prosper before scoring on an RBI single up the middle from Christian Triplett.
Florida A&M answered to regain the lead by a score of 4-2 with two runs in the home half of the sixth inning. Ellzey singled to center field with one out and Jacky Miles, Jr. followed with a single that dropped into left center. McDaniel then doubled home Ellzey with a ball down the left line, the third consecutive hit for the Rattlers in the inning. Shane Gordon then came in to pinch hit for Ryan Hutson and recorded a sac fly to center allowing Miles, Jr. to score from third base.
In the top of the seventh inning, Carlos Ortiz hit his sixth home run of the season, a solo home run to right field off of Weeks, to bring NCCU back within one run at 4-3.
FAMU was able to push across two more key runs in the eighth inning, on two bases loaded walks, to make the score 6-3. Miles, Jr. and McDaniel both record walks to open the inning and AJ Elkins reached on a fielder’s choice sacrifice bunt as all runners were safe to load the bases. Wong and Dillard then drew back walks with the bases loaded to plate Miles, Jr. and McDaniel for the Rattlers’ final two runs of the game.
North Carolina Central had a chance in the ninth inning after working the bases loaded with two outs. A single from Carlos Ortiz and a pair of walks loaded the bases. With a 2-0 count, Tyler Reker came in for relief of Hunter Fillingim. Reker threw two straight balls as a run was walked in to bring the score to 6-4. Reker was then able to get Prospero to fly out to right field and end the game to pick up his first save of the season.
NCCU starter Cameron Scalzo (2-4) suffered the loss after he worked 5.1 innings and allowed four runs on six hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
Central left 12 runners on the base, while the Rattlers left 10.
Florida A&M returns to action on Wednesday as they host North Florida for a single game at Moore-Kittles Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 PM.
***Courtesy FAMU Athletics
