Ryan Kennedy and Peter Jackson each added three hits on the day.
The Rattlers scored as many runs in the bottom of the first inning of game one as they did the entire series against NCCU in Durham earlier this season.
Marcus Roberts (1-0) earned his first career win after pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief and didn’t allow a hit with two strikeouts. Kenny McDonald walked the first batter he faced, but struck out the very next batter for the final out to record his sixth save of the season. Rattler starter Chase Jarrell tied a career-high with six strikeouts while working five innings in the no decision. Jarrell allowed three runs on five hits with one walk.
Brandon Fleming (5-1) took the win in game two as he recorded the final two outs of the fourth inning. Alex Carrasco worked the final two scoreless innings for his first save of the season. Game two starter Ricky Page worked 3 1/3 innings and allowed just one run on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
The Eagles scored first in game one with a single run in the top of the first inning. Eric Kimber led off the game with an infield single and stole second before Mitchell McCary’s sac bunt advanced him to third. Carlos Ortiz was hit-by-pitch with one out, Ronald Thompson struck out and Christian Triplett was also hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Conrad Kovalcik then drew a bases loaded walk to score Kimber from third for the first run of the game. Jacobi Harris would then strike out to end the inning and keep the scoring damage at one run.
FAMU answered with two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Walker led off the home half of the first by ripping a single back up the middle and moved to third as Alec Wong followed with a single through the right side. Walker would score from third as Marlon Gibbs reached on a fielder’s choice bunt back to the pitcher, but an errant throw home trying to catch Walker scoring allowed Wong and Gibbs to go to second and third. Wong then scored the second run on Kennedy’s RBI single to left.
NCCU regained the lead, at 3-2, on Triplett’s RBI double with two outs in the top of the fifth inning. McCrary singled up the middle and advanced to third on Thompson’s two-out double down the right line. Triplett followed with a two-run double down the right line to give Central the lead in what proved to be their final runs of the game.
The Rattlers took the lead for good with three runs in the sixth inning for a score of 5-3. Kennedy led off with a walk and advanced to second on a sac bunt from AJ Elkins. Brian Davis would then tie the game at 3-3 with an RBI single through the right side. Michael Birdsong followed with a single to right to place runners on first and second with one out and Jeremy Barlow loaded the bases with a walk. After a strikeout to Jackson, Walker put the Rattlers in front with a two-run single to center for his third hit of the day.
Florida A&M added one more run in the eighth for the final score of 6-3.
NCCU Starter Cameron Scalzo (2-1) suffered the game one loss, for his first loss of the season, after allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits with two strikeouts and three walks.
In game two, the Rattlers scored first with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Walker led off with a walk and moved to second as Gibbs was hit-by-pitch with one out. After Kennedy flew out to left, Elkins plated Walker with an RBI single back up the middle.
N.C. Central had a scoring opportunity in the top of the third inning with two outs and runners on second and third, but Triplett struck out to end the scoring threat.
Central would tie the game at 1-1 with a single run in the top of the fourth inning. James Dey walked with one out, moved to second on a passed ball before Cory Williamson also walked to put runners at first and second. That forced a pitching change as Brandon Fleming came in for relief of starter Page. Fleming walked the first batter he faced in Theissen and Dey scored next to tie the game as McCrary beat out a double play ball at first base on his grounder to short.
FAMU answered with a run in the bottom half of the fourth inning to take back the lead for good at 2-1. After a Barlow walked and Walker singled to left with two outs, a throwing error by Eagle second baseman Williamson allowed Barlow to come around and score the go-ahead run.
The Rattlers tacked on another run in the fifth inning to push their lead to the final of 3-1. Kennedy led off with a rare infield double as his pop fly was brought back across the diamond by the wind. Elkins advanced Kennedy to third with a sac bunt then Kennedy and Birdsong executed the double steal as Kennedy stole home. Kennedy was in a run down trying to score, which allowed Birdsong to advance all the way to third as Kennedy worked his way out of the rundown to score.
Florida A&M and North Carolina Central will close out the three-game series on Saturday at Fenway Park in Boston. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM and will be televised on the New England Sports Network (NESN). Freshman Ryan Anderson will be on the hill for the Rattlers.
As always, fans can follow Rattler Baseball on Twitter @FAMUAthletics and live stats will be available via www.FAMUAthletics.com.
COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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