FAMU Travels To NC Central For Big MEAC Series

Ryan C. Kennedy #33
6'-3" 205 Infielder
HOMETOWN: Merritt Island, Florida
Courtesy: Florida A&M Sports Information

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  – Florida A&M (18-21, 10-7 MEAC), who is coming off a huge win over No. 6 Florida at McKethan Stadium in Gainesville on Wednesday, looks to remain in first place of the MEAC Southern Division with a three game series against North Carolina Central (15-25-1, 10-9 MEAC) beginning on Saturday, April 26. The Rattlers have gone 7-2 over their last nine games including winning three straight.

Central leads the all-time series 10-13, which includes six straight losses for FAMU in Durham, NC. The last victory for the Rattlers over the Eagles in Durham came on April 13, 2011 by a score of 12-9. The series between the two schools only started in 2009 as NC Central resumed their baseball program in 2007 since 1975.

The Eagles had won five straight games the week of April 2-6 but have since lost four straight games and have gone 1-8 in their last nine games since April 8.

FAMU and NCCU split the first two meetings this season in Tallahassee. Florida A&M won game one by a score of 13-5 while NC Central took game two 6-5 in extra innings. Sunday’s game three was rained out with the Eagles leading 6-0 in the top of the second inning and has yet to be determined if that game will be made up.

Rattler catcher Jeremy Barlow went 4-for-6 with a double and a run scored while throwing out two Eagle base runners in the two games, while centerfielder Jared Walker was 5-for-9 with a triple, two runs scored and two RBI. The Rattlers hit .387 as a team in the series. Chase Jarrell and David Duncan started the two games as Jarrell was the only starter to earn the win. Jordan Montague pitched three innings of relief for the save of game one, only allowing one run on four hits.

NCCU is led offensively by Carter Williamson (.345) and Tyson Simpson (.378), while Christian Triplett’s seven home runs is tied with FAMU’s Ryan Kennedy as the MEAC home run leaders.

PITCHING PROBABLES:

                           Florida A&M (18-21, 10-7 MEAC)            NC Central (15-25-1, 10-9 MEAC)

Saturday Gm 1: Fr., RHP Chase Jarrell (4-2, 3.47)            Jr., RHP Kyle Shields (3-3, 3.38)

Saturday Gm 2: Sr., RHP David Duncan (2-4, 4.72)          Sr., RHP Terry McNabb (2-6, 4.13)      

Sunday:             So., RHP Kendal Weeks (2-1, 4.18)        So., RHP Alex Dandridge (1-3, 5.09)     

Rattler Quick Strikes:

• With the success of the 2014 season, the Rattlers have ended three long losing streaks to common opponents. With the 4-3 win on April 23 FAMU recorded its first victory in program history over No. 6 Florida, snapping an 18-game losing streak to the Gators. Florida A&M had also lost 20 straight to Jacksonville before a 6-5 victory back on April 8 at Moore-Kittles Field and ended a run of 13 consecutive losses to Bethune-Cookman with a 5-1 win on April 5 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
  
• In head coach Jamey Shouppe’s first season, FAMU has already won more games (18) than the last two years combined (14). The 18 wins are the most since the Rattlers went 24-30, 10-9 MEAC in 2009.
  
• FAMU is currently 10-7 in the MEAC. Florida A&M won seven games in each of the last two seasons. This is just the sixth time since 2000 that the Rattlers have won double-digit MEAC games (2002, 03, 07, 08, 09) and the most since they went 10-8 in 2009.
  
• 1B/RF Bennie Robinson comes in as one of the nations offensive leaders statistically. Robinson is hitting .411 (8^th) on the year with 65 hits (T-11th) and 94 total bases (T-28^th).
  
• Robinson is currently hitting .411. The last Rattler to hit over .400 with at least 100 at bats this late in the season was Derrick Shaw in 2010. Shaw finished with an average of .421 and was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010 (41^st Rd-Pick 14).
  
• Robinson is also hitting .513 (20-for-39) over the last 10 games with five doubles, a home run and six RBI.
  
• In the last 10 games the Florida A&M bullpen has pitched 45 strong innings with an ERA of 1.80 with 28 K’s and 12 BB. The Rattler bullpen also hasn’t allowed an earned run in five of those last 10 games dating back to the Sunday game at Bethune-Cookman on April 6.
  
• William Carrasco, who only allowed one unearned run in three innings as the starter at No. 6 Florida has been pitching well during the last half of the season. In his last six appearances he is 3-0 with an ERA of 0.51 with 13 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings of work including two saves.
  
• Florida A&M last won the MEAC Southern Division in 1997 and last won the conference championship in 1994.

The Rattlers and Eagles will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 26, as game times are scheduled for 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm. The series finale will be on Sunday at 1:00 pm.

As always, fans can follow Rattler Baseball on Twitter @FAMUAthletics and live stats will be available via www.FAMUAthletics.com.

VISIT: FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY
VISIT: FAMUATHLETICS.COM

By Michael Morrell/Special to FAMU Athletics
COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION