SAVANNAH, Ga. – Florida A&M (14-6, 5-1 MEAC) scored nine runs in the first two innings on its’ way to a 12-5 win over Savannah State (6-15, 1-2 MEAC) at Tiger Field on Sunday afternoon. The Rattlers sent 17 batters to the plate in the first two innings and totaled 13 hits in the win. Alec Wong went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored and Dylan Dillard added two, two-run, triples in his first two at bats as he went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBI on the day.
FAMU starter Chase Jarrell (3-1) earned the win after pitching five strong innings and allowed just two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
The Rattlers jumped out to a quick lead with six runs on six hits in the top of the first inning. Marlon Gibbs led off with an infield single that dribbled up the third base line and Wong followed with a double to right field. After a pop out from Brian Davis, Dillard roped a bases clearing triple to center field and was able to come home as the second baseman missed played the relay throw from center field. After a single from Ben Ellzey and a hit-by-pitch to Cameron Johnson, Jacky Miles, Jr. ripped an RBI double down the right line as Ellzey came around to score. AJ Elkins would follow with a two-run single that dropped in over the first baseman’s head to bring home the fifth and sixth runs of the inning.
Florida A&M would score three more runs on four hits in the second inning to put the game out of reach at 9-0. With one out, Wong singled to left center and Davis doubled to left as runners were now on second and third. Dillard then roped his second triple in as many at bats, this time to right center, to score both Wong and Davis. Ellzey was able to bring home Dillard from third with an RBI single up the middle.
SSU picked up a pair of runs in the third inning to make the score 9-2. Jonathan Moore led off with a single up the middle and Charles Sikes dropped in a blooper into center field. Both runners moved up a base on Mendez Elder’s ground out before Moore came home on Jakeel Daniel’s groundout to short. Somto Egbuna then doubled home Sikes with a ball down the left line.
FAMU scored its’ final three runs in the fifth inning to put the Rattlers back up by 10 runs at 12-2. Johnson reached on an error by the first baseman, Sikes, and Miles, Jr. followed with a single to right field. With one out, Willis McDaniel hit a two-run double to left field. McDaniel then advanced to third on a groundout from Gibbs and scored on a wild pitch.
The Tigers scored a run in the sixth inning for a score of 12-3 and added two more runs in the ninth inning on bases loaded walks for the final score of 12-5. Hunter Fillingim walked five batters in the ninth inning, twice with the bases loaded to allow Jacob Lightle and Cole Bruce to score.
Tiger starter Greg Hollman (0-3) took the loss as he allowed six runs on six hits and recorded just one out with a hit batter in the first inning.
Florida A&M returns home for a three-game series with Florida Gulf Coast beginning on Thursday, March 24. Thursday andFriday’s games will begin at 5:00 PM, while Saturday’s series finale will start at 1:00 PM.
***Courtesy FAMU Athletics
