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| By: Florida A&M Sports Information |
JACKSON, Mississippi
– Florida A&M (2-2) snapped a three-game losing streak by beating Jackson State (2-2) 15-2 in game two of Saturday’s doubleheader at Bob Braddy Field. JSU won game one by a score of 4-3. In game two,
Brian Davis drove in seven runs while going 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Davis belted his first home run of the season in the ninth inning and had a three-run double in the seventh inning. Game 2 starting pitcher
Sawyer Betts (2-0) worked eight strong innings and allowed just two runs (one earned) with seven strikeouts and no walks for the win. The last time FAMU had a player record seven RBI in a game was Brian Braxton against Coppin State on March 27, 2004.
Alec Wong scored two runs while going 2-for-3 with an RBI, while
Marlon Gibbs also had a multi-hit performance going 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Peter Jackson recorded two doubles in the win with two RBI and two runs scored as the Rattler offense tallied 12 hits.
Brandon Fleming (0-1) suffered the game one loss for FAMU after being responsible for the go ahead run in the eighth inning. Fleming allowed one run on one hit.
In game one, JSU scored first with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Bryce Brown led off with a walk on four pitches and stole second as Lamar Briggs went down swinging. Brown would score on Carlos Diaz’s RBI double to left. Tony Holton then grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning for the Tigers.
The Rattlers answered with two runs in the top of the second inning on
Jacky Miles, Jr.’s two-run single to take a 2-1 lead. Davis and
Dylan Dillard led off the Rattler second inning with back-to-back walks before
Ben Ellzey moved both runners up a base with a sac bunt. Miles, Jr. then plated both runners with a two-run single back up the middle.
Florida A&M pushed its’ lead to 3-1 with a single run in the fourth inning. After a Davis groundout, Dillard and Ellzey were both hit-by-pitch in back-to-back at bats to put runners on first and second. Miles Jr. would reach on a fielder’s choice, off the glove of the shortstop, but Dillard was thrown out at third on a force out. Ellzey would later come around to score from second on Hutson’s RBI single to center.
Jackson State got a run back in the fifth inning to cut the FAMU lead to 3-2. Anthony Stricklin led off with a triple into left center and scored on Cornelius Copeland’s sac fly to left field.
In the sixth inning, the Tigers tied the game at 3-3. Jesus Santana drew a one-out walk and went to third on Holton’s single up the middle. CJ Newsome then reached on a bunt single back to the pitcher to load the bases and Santana later scored as Sam Campbell drew a bases loaded walk to tie the game at 3-3. With the bases still loaded, Stricklin grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
JSU would score the go ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning in what proved to be the final score of 4-3. Holton reached on a bunt single and went to second on an errant throw to first from
Brandon Fleming. Newsome was then hit-by-pitch and Campbell moved the runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt. Copeland then reached on a fielder’s choice which allowed Holton to score the go ahead run.
FAMU had a chance in the top of the ninth inning with the tying run on second and the go ahead run on first, but was unable to get the runs home. Ellzey led off the ninth with a single up the middle and
Peter Jackson then came in to pinch run for Ellzey at first base. Miles, Jr. put down a sac bunt to move Jackson to second and with two outs,
Cameron Johnson drew a pinch hit walk, but Gibbs went down on strikes to end the game.
Jackson State reliever Rene Colon (1-0) earned the win after closing out theseventh inning and pitching a scoreless eighth inning. Colon only allowed one hit with one strikeout.
In game 2, the Rattlers scored quick and often. FAMU scored first for a two run lead, in the second inning, on Miles, Jr. two run double. Davis drew a leadoff walk and Ellzey was hit-by-pitch to put runners at first and second with no outs. Dillard advanced the runners with a sacifice bunt before Miles, Jr. roped a two-run double into left center that gave FAMU the early lead.
The Tigers picked up a run in the bottom of the second inning as Santana led off the inning with a solo home run to make the score 2-1.
Florida A&M increased its’ lead to 4-1 with two more runs in the third inning. Gibbs led off with a walk and Wong was hit-by-pitch as runners were on first and second with no outs for the second straight inning. Gibbs was then thrown out at third as Gordon reached on a fielder’s choice bunt trying to advance the runners. Davis then came through by scoring Wong from second on an RBI single through the left side. Gordon later scored the second run of the inning on Ellzey’s sac fly to center,
The Rattlers added two more runs in the fourth inning to make the score 6-1. Jackson doubled to right with two outs and Gibbs singled down the right line to score Jackson. Gibbs advanced to second on the throw, took third on a wild pitch and scored on Wong’s RBI single to give Florida A&M a five-run advantage.
FAMU’s scored for the fourth straight inning, this time with three runs in the fifth inning that made the score 9-1. Ellzey singled with one out, Dillard walked and Miles Jr. was hit-by-pitch to load the bases.
AJ Elkins drove in Ellzey with a sacrifice fly to left and Jackson then recorded his second double of the game, in as many at bats, to plate two more runs and push the Rattler lead to eight.
JSU scored their final run of the game, to make the score 9-2, with an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Briggs reached on an error and a double down the right line from Campbell put runners on second and third with no outs. After a strikeout, David Burke grounded out to second to plate Briggs for the unearned run.
Florida A&M scored a single run in the sixth inning and three more runs in the seventh inning, on Davis’ three-run double to left, to put the game out of reach at 13-2.
The Rattlers added two final runs in the ninth inning as Davis blasted his first home of the season, a two-run shot to deep right, for the 15-2 final.
Tiger starting pitcher Miguel Yrigoyen (1-1) took the loss after giving up eight runs on six hits in 4.1 innings of work. Yrigoyen walked three batters and had two strikeouts.
Florida A&M and Jackson State close out the three-game series on Sunday at 1:00 PM at Bob Braddy Field.
As always, fans can follow Rattler Baseball on Twitter @BaseballFAMU and on Facebook, while live stats will be available via
www.FAMUAthletics.com on the baseball schedule page.
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The Tennessee State men’s track and field team earned a third place finish at the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championship on Saturday at the Gentry Center. 15 different athletes scored points in individual events on the day for TSU.
