Montgomery, Al. (March 13th, 2018) – Florida A&M University hit the road on Tuesday to take on the Hornets of Alabama State University in a single non-conference matchup. The Rattlers came into this game looking for their third win in four games after taking two of three from rival Bethune-Cookman University.
The Rattlers took an early lead in this one, thanks to a Brian Davis double down the right field line that scored Dallas Oliver, who was hit by a pitch.
FAMU struck again in the fourth inning, thanks in part to a lead-off walk by Brian Davis and a single through the left side by Jacky Miles that would advance Davis to third. John Capra then came through with a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Davis. The Rattlers were not done there. Bret Maxwell walked to force Miles to second, and Miles would then score on a single through the right side by Ty Russ, giving him his first RBI of the year. Jordan Curtis would tack on two more runs with a single to left center that scored Maxwell and Russ, giving the FAMU a 5-0 lead going into the bottom of the fourth.
Alabama State took the lead in the bottom of the fourth with six runs of their own. Gustavo Rios led off the inning with a single to right field before advancing to second on a base hit by Yamil Pagan. Nate Gerard loaded the bases, reaching on an error by the pitcher. Joshua Dunson then forced in the Hornets’ first run with a walk. With the bases still loaded AJ Gardner grounded out to third to drive in another run. The third run of the inning scored on a walk by Hunter Phillips. Santiago Garcia drove in another run with a single to right field, and advanced to third on an error, allowing two more runs, making it a 6-5 game in favor of the Hornets.
FAMU regained the lead in the top of the fifth inning with two runs of their own. John Capra first reached base on an infield single, and then advanced to third on a double by Octavien Moyer. Bret Maxwell also reached on an infield single, driving in Capra. Ty Russ added one more run with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Moyer to give the Rattlers a 7-6 lead going into the bottom of the fifth. They would extend the lead to two runs in the sixth inning, thanks to an John Capra RBI fielder’s choice that drove in Dallas Oliver, who previously reached on a single up the middle.
The sixth inning saw yet another lead change thanks to a three run sixth inning by Alabama State. Santiago Garcia singled to left field to drive in Christopher DeGuzman and Hunter Phillips, who hit a single earlier in the inning. With Joseph Estrada on third base, Gustavo Rios hit a ground ball to first base to drive in a run, giving the Hornets a 9-8 lead. They extended their lead in the seventh inning. Joshua Dunson led off the inning with a walk and would later score on a ground ball to shortstop by Christopher DeGuzman, making it a 10-8 game.
With three outs left in the game, the Florida A&M tied up the game in the ninth inning. With Octavien Moyer on third and Bret Maxwell on first, Ty Russ drove in his third run of the game with a ground ball to the first baseman. Kaycee Reese later tied up the game with a ground ball to second base that scored Maxwell.
The game went into extra innings tied at ten before FAMU took a 13-10 lead in the top of the tenth inning. Brian Davis led off the inning with a walk and would later score on an infield single by Octavien Moyer. Ty Russ continued to be productive at the plate, driving in two more runs with a single through the left side before the Rattlers’ half of the inning ended.
