Big Day Including a Game 2 Walk-Off Home Run Lifts FAMU Over NC A&T 10-7 & 3-2

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Alec Wong recorded his first two home runs of the season including a game two walk-off home run to lift Florida A&M (10-15, 6-5 MEAC) to a doubleheader sweep over North Carolina A&T (3-20, 1-9 MEAC) by scores of 10-7 & 3-2 at Moore-Kittles Field on Saturday. Wong had a monster day at the plate as he went 6-for-8 with two home runs, a double, 13 total bases, four runs scored and three RBI in the two games. The Rattler pitching staff only allowed three runs on nine hits over the final 11 innings combined in the doubleheader.

Marlon Gibbs went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in game one, while Ryan Kennedy went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored in game to for FAMU.

Cleveland Westbrook (2-0) pitched the final two outs in the eighth inning with one strikeout to earn his second win of the season in game one and Kenny McDonald struck out the only batter he faced in the ninth inning for his fifth save. McDonald (2-0) also picked up the win in game two after recording the final out in the top of the seventh inning. Game one Rattler starter Chase Jarrell pitched five innings and allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits with four strikeouts in the no decision. Ryan Anderson started game two for Florida A&M and pitched 5.1 innings with just one run on three hits with two strikeouts while also recording a no decision.

NC A&T grabbed a 3-0 lead with three runs on four hits in the top of the second inning. Brandon Wilkerson led off the inning with a single to right and Erik Montero followed with a double to left center to put runners on second and third with no outs. Wilkerson then scored the first run of the game as Adan Ordonez grounded out to short. Ryan Jantsch’s RBI single back up the middle plated Montero and Milton Rivera’s double to right center with two outs scored AJ Hunt, who had singled up the middle, from first for the third run of the inning.

FAMU answered with three runs in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game at 3-3. Jeremy Barlow and Logan Seymour drew back-to-back walks with two outs before Wong roped an RBI double into the right center gap that scored Barlow for the Rattlers first run of the game. With runners now on second and third, AJ Elkins’ then tied the game with a two-run double to left center that brought home both Wong and Seymour.

The Rattlers took their first lead of the day at 6-3 after a pair of home runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Wong blasted his first home run of the season, with one out, in the bottom of the fourth inning and Michael Birdsong crushed a two-run shot over the fence in left center in the fifth inning to give FAMU a 6-3 lead.

North Carolina A&T rallied to tie the game at 6-6 with three runs in the top of the sixth inning. Kyle Clary doubled to left center to lead off the sixth, moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring on Wilkerson’s RBI single to center. Montero then doubled down the left line to put runners on second on third. Alex Carrasco would come in to relieve starter Jarrell and balked home the runner from third that made the score 6-5. Jantsch tied the game on an RBI groundout to second.

Florida A&M regained the lead at 7-6 with a single run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Kennedy was walked for the third time in the game to start the inning and went to second as Brian Davis grounded out to first base. Kennedy went to third on a balk and Birdsong walked to place runners on the corners. Birdsong would steal second before Peter Jackson hit into a fielder’s choice and Kennedy was thrown out at the plate on the play by the shortstop. Birdsong took third base on the throw that went home and the catcher came up throwing to third trying to catch Birdsong. The throw went high into left field allowing Birdsong to come home and give FAMU the one run lead.

NC A&T again tied the game at 7-7 in the eighth with back-to-back one out doubles from Hunt and Jantsch.

The Rattlers would take the lead for good in what proved to be the game one final of 10-7 with three runs in the home half of the eighth inning. Seymour led off the eighth with a walk and took third on a perfectly executed hit-and-run as Wong singled back up the middle. Elkins sac fly to right scored Seymour for the go-ahead run. Gibbs’s then doubled down the right line to score Wong from second. With Gibbs on second and one out, Kennedy walked before Davis’s RBI single through the right side brought home Gibbs for the third run of the inning.

Aggie reliever Jason Gifford (0-1) suffered the loss after working the final 1.2 innings and allowing three runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Starter Mitchell McQueen also pitched a no decision after giving up six runs on five hits with six walks and two strikeouts in 4.1 innings.

In game two, NC A&T again scored first with a single run in the top of the second inning for an early 1-0 lead. Ordonez singled through the right side with two outs and scored all the way from first as Hunt doubled deep into center field.

FAMU grabbed the lead, at 2-1, in the bottom of the third inning as Kennedy blasted his third home run of the season, a two run shot to left field.

The Aggies tied the game at 2-2 with a run in the top of the seventh inning. Montero reached on an infield single with one out and Micah Carmony then came in to pinch run for him at first. Ordonez then doubled in Carmony for the tying run with a ball deep down the left field line. Hunt followed with a walk as runners were now on first and second. Each runner moved up a base on a wild pitch and after Jantsch walked to load the bases with one out, Rattler reliever McDonald came in to record two quick outs on a strikeout and groundout to end the A&T scoring threat.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Wong belted his second home run of the day, a walk-off over the fence in right, to give FAMU the 3-2 win.

NC A&T reliever Jerry Liang (0-4) came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh for the Aggies and gave up the home run to Wong for the game two loss.

Florida A&M and North Carolina A&T will conclude the three-game series on Sunday at Moore-Kittles Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM.

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

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FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Privateers Fall on Saturday to Arkansas-Pine Bluff

NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Privateers baseball team (9-17, 2-7 Southland) committed four errors and gave up three two-out runs in the third inning of an 8-3 loss to the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions on Saturday afternoon at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark.

Leading 2-1 with two outs in the third, the Privateers gave up a two-run double to right off the bat of Andre Davis to give the Golden Lions a lead they would not relinquish. A single by Jerimiah Figeuroa followed by one of the four errors in the game allowed Davis to score to make it 4-2. Arkansas-Pine Bluff continued to build on their lead while getting a complete game on the mound by Blake Estep.

Estep retired the final 10 batters in order as the Privateers had five fly outs in the final three innings. Of Estep's three runs allowed, just one was earned while he struck out seven batters. "You've got four errors today and you can't give runs away. We didn't hit the ball that well today either," said Coach Ron Maestri.

The Privateers answered a first inning run by Arkansas-Pine Bluff with one of their own in the bottom of the first. Ryan Calloway led off with a single and then registered his sixth stolen base of the year. The throw that tried to nab Calloway went into center, moving him to third. Jonathan Coco followed with an RBI single.

In the third, New Orleans started with back-to-back singles by Matt Rykaczewski and Preston Marsh. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners over. With two outs, Ryan Calloway beat out a ground ball for an infield single that gave the Privateers what would be their only lead of the day.

Jordan Priddle went 4.1 innings and allowed seven runs (three earned) on nine hits. Jarred Taylor recorded his longest outing of the year, going the final 4.2 innings and allowing just one run on four hits. Calloway and Marsh each had two hits at the plate.

For Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Rashawn Tillman went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and a run. Davis, Figueroa, and Chris Burns each had two hits while Vladimir Gomez scored two runs. Estep threw 132 pitches in the contest.

The series will conclude tomorrow with a first pitch at 1 p.m.

For more information, follow the Privateers on Twitter @UNOPrivateers and @Privateers_BSB or like us on Facebook.

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Former ASU back Cyrus supporting Jenkins, Alabama State

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Malcolm Cyrus' loyalty to Alabama State hasn't wavered.

One of the best running backs to ever play for the Hornets, Cyrus continues to support the school despite the firing of his college coach, Reggie Barlow, allegations being made against new coach Brian Jenkins and ASU reporting potential rules violations under Barlow's watch to the NCAA.

"It doesn't bother me because, to be honest about it, there are a lot things going on at a lot of other schools that we don't know about," Cyrus said. "Ours have just made it to the media. I love Alabama State. There's nothing bad about Alabama State. I'd never put Alabama State down. Alabama State, that's my home. Alabama State comes before any other college, and I was an Auburn fan. Alabama State comes before Auburn."

Cyrus, who led the SWAC in rushing last season with 1,662 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, said he'd "encourage anybody" to go to Alabama State.

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Former Northeast Guilford football coach has new job at SSU

McLEANSVILLE, North Carolina -- Former Northeast Guilford football coach Donovan Jackson has landed at Savannah State as the Tigers’ offensive line coach.

Jackson stepped down with two games to go in Northeast’s 2014 season after compiling a 4-16 record as the Rams’ coach. The Norfolk State alumnus takes over the offensive line for a Savannah State program that went 0-12 overall in 2014 and 0-8 in the MEAC.

After resigning as head coach at Northeast, he served as an assistant to Norfolk State coach Pete Adrian during the rest of the season, breaking down film and joining the Spartans for games to work with their offensive line.

“My work with Norfolk State allowed me to build a relationship with Coach (Earnest) Wilson at Savannah, and that, along with a recommendation from Coach Adrian, allowed me to get the interview,” Jackson said by phone today.

Jackson said he has to fulfill his obligations at Northeast, where his last day will be April 9, before starting at Savannah State on April 13. The Tigers do not have spring practice, so the emphasis now is on strength and conditioning to prepare for fall practice.

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Row, Rolland, Moses lead Xavier at Bobcat Invitational

SAN MARCOS, Texas -- A school record by Tylor Row and NAIA national B-qualifying marks by Devinn Rolland and Joseph Moses III were among Xavier University of Louisiana highlights Saturday on the final day of the Bobcat Invitational track and field meet.

Row, a freshman, ran the women’s 100-meter hurdles in 15.63 seconds and finished 15th. It was the second time this season that an XU athlete broke the school record in this event -- Terri Cunningham set the previous mark of 16.03 March 14 at the McNeese Cowboy Relays. The school record entering the season was Cunningham’s 16.13 from 2014.

Rolland finished 20th in the women’s 200 in 24.93 and qualified for the NAIA National Championships in that event for the fourth consecutive year. Moses, a freshman, placed seventh in the men’s 200 with a national qualifying time of 21.60.

Rolland and Row ran the first two legs in the 1,600 relay. Tramaine Shannon and Clarke Allen ran the final two legs in a ninth-place finish and a season-best 3:59.56. Ireyon Keith (16 feet, 1½ inches, 21st) and Vinnie Briggs (15-6¾, 23rd) had season bests in the women’s long jump, and Christopher August posted a career best (2:03.44, 29th) in the men’s 800.

The meet was Xavier's fourth of the outdoor season. Next for the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets will be the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships April 11 at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans. Xavier is the two-time defending GCAC women's team champion.

Here are all of Xavier's Saturday results from the Bobcat Invitational:

Women

200: Devinn Rolland, 20th in 24.93: Kailey Williams, 37th in 25.62; Destini Thomas, 54th in 27.26

400 Relay: Chelsea James, Vinnie Briggs, Clarke Allen, Devinn Rolland, 7th in 48.36

1,600 Relay: Devinn Rolland, Tylor Row, Tramaine Shannon, Clarke Allen, 9th in 3:59.56

100 Hurdles: Tylor Row, 15th in 15.63

Long Jump: Devinn Rolland, 20th in 5.08 meters (16 feet, 8 inches); Ireyon Keith, 21st in 4.91 meters (16-1 1/2); Vinnie Briggs, 23rd in 4.74 meters (15-6 3/4)

Men

200: Joseph Moses III, 7th in 21.60

800: Christopher August, 29th in 2:03.44

110 Hurdles: Chris Adams, 12th in 16.16


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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Southern University’s Ronald Mason among 3 finalists for University of the District of Columbia job

The other finalists for the UDC job are Malcolm X College President Anthony Munroe and Bennet College President Emerita Julianne Malveaux.

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- Southern University System President Ronald Mason has been named a finalist in the search for the University of the District of Columbia’s next president.

Mason is slated to be on the UDC campus April 3 for interviews. Two other finalists for the job will interview this week and April 10,according to the university.

Mason’s pursuit of other opportunities doesn’t come as a surprise. His contract at Southern University will run through June 30, and the system Board of Supervisors has set out on a search for a new leader, after opting not to try to renew Mason’s contract.

“If selected I would be university president and head of the HBCU system of higher learning that serves the nation’s capital,” Mason said of being one of three finalists for the UDC job. “It has the usual challenges, but it also has the potential to be something special in higher education. Being part of a team that helps it reach that potential would be good work to do.”

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VIDEO: FAMU Wind Symphony holds dress rehearsal for Carnegie Hall debut

MANHATTAN, New York -- The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Wind Symphony makes final preparations for its Carnegie Hall performance at a dress rehearsal on Saturday at the New York Hilton Midtown Manhattan Hotel.

A ballroom on the third floor of the hotel was converted to a rehearsal hall for the nearly 60-piece band under the baton of band director Dr. Shelby Chipman.

John Williams’ “Star Wars Trilogy,” Eric Whitacre’s “Cloudburst” and David Maslanka's “Symphony No. 7, Mvt. III” are among the songs the ensemble rehearsed for its debut appearance scheduled for Sunday night.

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