Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida A&M (1-1) gave up 19 runs in the first five innings, including a 12-run fifth inning. Marshall (1-1) pounds the Rattlers 24-2 on Saturday afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field. FAMU scored two runs in the ninth inning to avoid the shutout. Florida A&M starter Alex Carrasco (0-1) suffered the loss after giving up 7 runs on 10 hits in 2.2 innings of work with two strikeouts.
Marshall’s 31 hits were the most in program history and third most in Conference USA hitstory.
The Rattlers stranded an early scoring opportunity in the bottom of the first inning after having runners on second and third with no outs. Jared Walker led off the inning reaching on a rare strikeout passed ball. Brian Davis followed with a single to center to put runners on first and second with no outs. Next Walker and Davis pulled off a double steal to move up a base. However, Marshall starting pitcher Chase Boster would strikeout the next three FAMU batters to keep the Rattlers off the board.
Marshall started the scoring with three runs on six hits in the top of the second inning while batting around in the order. With one out, Tyler Ratliff, DJ Gee and Josh King recorded three consecutive hits for the first run of the game. After Robert Fajardo went down on strikes, Corey Bird and Sergio Leon each had an RBI single with two outs to increase the Herd lead to 3-0.
The Herd added four more runs in the third inning to increase their lead to 7-0. King had an RBI groundout, while Bird belted a two-run double and Leon added an RBI double in the inning to account for the four runs.
In the fifth inning, MU scored nine runs with no outs on its way to 12 runs in the inning to make the score 19-0. The Herd had 13 hits in the inning. King’s two-run home run over the fence in left and a pinch-hit grand slam by Spencer Iacovone highlighted the scoring.
Marshall added five more runs in the sixth and seventh innings to cap its run total at 24.
FAMU finally broke the shutout with a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth. Cleveland Westbrook, who came in to pinch run for Jeremy Barlow following Barlow’s single, later scored from third on a passed ball. Brian Davis’ sac fly to left would plate Taylor Strauss for the Rattlers’ second run of the game and the final score of 24-2.
Marshall starter Chase Boster (1-0) worked five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and one walk for the win.
The Rattlers and Herd will close out the three-game series on Sunday morning at Moore-Kittles Field at 11:00 AM. FAMU RHP David Ogilvie will face Herd RHP Lance Elder.
***FAMU Athletics
