MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Florida A&M (12-5, 3-0 MEAC) scored in seven of the nine innings and used home runs from Dylan Dillard and Willis McDaniel to win its’ ninth straight game, a 14-8 win over Alabama State (10-9, 3-0 SWAC) at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex on Wednesday. The Rattlers had 15 hits in the win, while Jacky Miles, Jr. went 3-for-6 to help pace the FAMU offense. The Rattlers have now had at least 10 hits in 11 games this season.Dillard drove in three runs, while going 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Alec Wong (2-for-6), Ryan Hutson (2-for-2) and Peter Jackson (2-for-4) had multi-hit performances.
FAMU starter Ryan Anderson (2-1) earned the win after working a pre-determined outing. Anderson allowed five runs (three earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts and one walk in 4.2 innings of work.
The Rattlers jumped out early with two runs in the top of the first inning for a 2-0 lead. Marlon Gibbs led off the game with a walk and came around to score as Wong ripped a double down the left line. With two outs, Miles, Jr. singled off the pitcher to put runners on the corners and Wong came home for the second run of the inning on a wild pitch.
ASU cut the lead in half at 2-1 with an unearned run in the home half of the first inning. Carlos Ocasio reached on a throwing error by AJ Elkins that would have ended the inning. Dillon Cooper then doubled down the left line and a misplayed ball in left field allowed Ocasio to score from first.
Florida A&M added to its’ lead in the third inning with a two-run home run from Dillard to make the score 4-1. Ben Ellzey was hit-by-pitch with one out and Dillard followed with an opposite field, two-run, home run to push the FAMU lead to three runs.
The Hornets picked up another unearned run in the third inning for a score of 4-2. Diandre Amion led off with a single just passed the diving Dillard at first base and was later able to advance to third on a throwing error down to first base from Miles, Jr. Amion later came home on a sac fly to center field from Cooper.
FAMU kept the offensive pressure going and increased its’ lead to 8-2 with four unearned runs in the fourth inning. Elkins led off the fourth reaching on an error as Hornet shortstop Priolea booted a ground ball. McDaniel then advanced Elkins to second with a sac bunt towards third base before Jackson plated Elkins with an RBI single to center. Gibbs then dropped in a one-out single to right center to place runners on the corners and Ellzey was hit-by-pitch for the second straight at bat to load the bases with two outs. Jackson was then able to come home from third as Dillard drew a bases loaded walk. A wild pitch from Hornet pitcher Michael Tellado scored Gibbs and Miles, Jr. followed with an RBI single to bring home Ellzey for the fourth run of the inning.
The Rattlers scored for the third straight inning, courtesy of a two-run home run by McDaniel that made the score 10-2. Elkins led off the inning, just as he did the last inning, by reaching on an error, this time by the first baseman Chris Biocic. McDaniel then crushed his third home run of the season, a deep two-run shot to left field.
Alabama State cut the lead to 10-5 with three runs in the fifth inning. Ocasio walked and Cooper followed with a single to left to put runners on first and second and no outs. Biocic was then hit-by-pitch to load the bases as Hernandez then singled home Ocasio. Still with the bases loaded and no outs, Hunter Allen grounded out to short as Cooper scored from third. Biocic would later score on an infield single from Eriq White.
FAMU was able to answer back with a run in the sixth inning for a score of 11-5. Dillard led off with a walk and stole second as Miles, Jr. went down on a called third strike. Dillard went to third on an infield single from Hutson and later came home on a safety squeeze from Elkins.
ASU kept battling and made the score 12-7 as they were able to get a two-run home run from Amion in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Florida A&M plated a single run in the eighth inning and two more in the ninth for their final runs of the day. The Hornets would score an unearned run in the ninth for the final score of 14-8.
Hornet starter Patrick Coffin (0-2) suffered the loss after he gave up two runs on two on two hits in the first inning including a leadoff walk to Gibbs.
Florida A&M returns to MEAC play this weekend as they travel to face Savannah State for a three-game series. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 1:00 PM, and Sunday’s series finale will also start at 1:00 PM.
As always, fans can follow Rattler Baseball on Twitter @BaseballFAMU and on Facebook.
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