JACKSON, Miss. – Florida A&M (3-4) squandered a 9-3 lead as Jackson State (4-3) used a 10-run fifth inning to defeat the Rattlers by a score of 16-9 on Sunday at Bob Braddy Field. FAMU took a six run lead into the bottom of the fifth inning, but a rough inning by the pitching staff not able to throw strikes cost Florida A&M the lead. The pitching staff walked 10 batters in the loss and hit two batters. FAMU had 14 hits as the offense tried to do its’ part. Alec Wong went 4-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored, while Dylan Dillard went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored.
Marlon Gibbs (2-for-5) and Brian Davis (2-for-4) each added multi-hit performances for the Florida A&M offense. Gibbs also scored two runs and Davis had three more RBI, 10 on the weekend, and his second home run of the season.
Rattler reliver Ryan Kopenski (0-1) took the loss as his batter served as the go ahead run in the fifth inning. Kopenski allowed three runs on one hit with two walks. Starter Ricky Page had a strong start, but fell off in the fourth inning. Page allowed three runs on two hits with three walks and one strikeout in 3.2 innings of work. All his runs came in the fourth inning.
FAMU scored first with a run in the top of the first inning for an early 1-0 lead. Gibbs led off the game with a single to center and Wong drew a walk to put runners on first and second with no outs. With two outs, Davis’ RBI single scored Wong from third for the first run of the game.
The Rattlers pushed their lead to 5-0 as they scored four more runs on five hits in the third inning. Gibbs reached on an infield single and stole second before scoring on Wong’s RBI double into the left center gap. Wong then advanced to third on Jacky Miles, Jr’s groundout to second. Davis followed with his second home run of the series, a two-run shot to center field. Dillard scored the fourth run of the inning on a balk after he singled, stole second and moved to third on a groundout by Shane Gordon.
Jackson State got on the board as they scored three runs in the fourth inning to cut the FAMU lead to 5-3. CJ Newsome walked with one out, moved to second on a wild pitch before Carlos Diaz drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Newsome came around to score on Jesus Santana’s RBI single to right, which also allowed Diaz to advance to third. Santana then stole second and Tony Hotlton’s two-run double down the right line made the score 5-3.
Florida A&M answered with four unearned runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a six run lead at 9-3. Dillard doubled to left center with one out and Gordon reached on an error by the third baseman. The Rattlers used two more errors by the Tigers to load the bases with two outs. Peter Jackson’s two-run single to right field plated Dillard and Gordon, then Hutson scored from third, on the second error in the inning by the shortstop Cornelius Copeland, to put the FAMU lead back to five at 8-3. Wong’s RBI single then scored Jackson from second for the final run of the inning.
The game got away from FAMU in the bottom of the fifth inning as the Tigers scored 10 runs and sent 14 batters to the plate. JSU scored six runs with no outs to take their first lead of the game at 13-9. The Rattlers walked five batters, hit one batter and allowed six hits in the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Diaz and Santana belted back-to-back home runs for JSU and the final score of 16-9.
Jackson State reliever Joshua Santiago (1-0) picked up the win as he held FAMU scoreless over 3.2 innings. Santiago surrendered just two hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Tiger starter Jamal Wilson was chased from the game in the fifth inning after working 4.2 innings and allowing nine runs (five earned) on 11 hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
The Rattlers close out their seven game road trip at Mercer this week with a pair of mid-week games on Tuesday andWednesday. First pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 6:00 PM ET, while Wednesday’s game is set for a 4:00 PM ET start.
***Courtesy FAMU Athletics
