Monday, March 7, 2016

Florida A&M Rattlers Complete Sweep of Western Michigan with 12-5 Win On Sunday


TALLAHASSEE, Florida – Florida A&M (7-5) won its’ fourth straight game and completed the sweep over Western Michigan (0-9) by a score of 12-5 at Moore-Kittles Field on Sunday afternoon. The Rattler offense pounded out 16 hits, their eighth game this season with double digit hits. Ben Ellzey went 3-for-4 on the day with an RBI double and two runs scored as FAMU had six players record multi-hit performances. Dylan Dillard added four RBI and a triple on the day.

Alec Wong (2-for-4), Dylan Dillard (2-for-5), AJ Elkins (2-for-5) and Peter Jackson (2-for-5) helped pace the Rattler offense. Jackson recorded his first career home run in the second inning.

FAMU starter Chase Jarrell (1-1) worked five innings and allowed four runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and one walk for the win.

The Broncos got on the board first with a run in the top of the second inning for an early 1-0 lead. Steve Pastora led off with a single into center field and advanced to second on a ground out by Tanner Allison. Pastora would later come around to score on an RBI single from Mitchell Ho.

FAMU answered right back on Jackson’s two-run home run in the second inning to take a 2-1 lead. With one out, Elkins singled to right and Jackson followed with a solo home run deep over the fence in left field.

In the third inning, Shane Gordon’s two-run double over the head of the left fielder pushed the Rattler lead to 4-1. Wong singled to center to start the inning and moved to second on Ellzey’s groundout back to the pitcher. Brian Davis then drew a walk with two outs before Gordon’s double plated both Wong and Davis.

The Rattlers would score four more runs to increase the lead to 8-1. Jackson and Willis McDaniel led off with back-to-back singles and Marlon Gibbs advanced the runners with a sac bunt. Wong was intentionally walked to load the bases, hoping to set up a double play ball, but Ellzey singled through the left side to score Jackson. With the bases still loaded, Dylan Dillard cleared the bases with a triple down the left line to push the FAMU lead to seven runs.

Western Michigan picked up three runs on four hits in the fifth inning to cut the FAMU lead to 8-4. Nick Vogelmeier led off with a double, Jesse Forestell singled to center and Miller ripped a two-run double down the left line. Miller went to third on the throw home and later scored on Tanner Allison’s RBI single to left with two outs.

WMU picked up another run in the sixth as the score was now 8-5. Vogelmeir singled a ball that ricocheted off pitcher Brandon Fleming with two outs and moved to second on a wild pitch. Forestell then walked before Miller recorded his fourth hit of the day, an RBI single through the right side.

Florida A&M was able to score two more runs in the seventh inning for a score of 10-5. Davis led off with a double down the right line and scored on Elkins deep fly ball to right that was misplayed allowing Elkins to go to second. Elkins tagged up and went to third on Jackson’s fly out to right before scoring on McDaniel’s RBI single to left field.

The Rattlers scored their final two runs in the eighth inning for the final score of 12-5. Wong singled to right and went to third on a double to right from Ellzey with no outs. Dillard then drove in Wong with an RBI single through the left side and Davis was hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Ellzey came home for the final run of the day on a one out RBI single from Elkins.

WMU starter Derek Schneider (0-3) took the loss after he allowed eight runs on nine hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 3.1 innings of work.

Florida A&M returns to action on Tuesday at Moore-Kittles Field as they face Toledo at 5:00 PM.

As always, fans can follow Rattler Baseball on Twitter @BaseballFAMU and on Facebook.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

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