Sophomore Tim Schlach laced a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning to vault Florida A&M past Delaware State, 7-6 Thursday evening in the opening round of the 2008 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament here at Marty L. Miller Field.

Thursday’s thriller snapped a five-game MEAC Tournament losing skid for the Rattlers, who had not won a first round tourney game since 2004.

They advance in the winner’s bracket to face second-seeded North Carolina A&T, a 4-2 winner over host Norfolk State, Friday at 2:00 p.m.

Florida A&M (20-20) fell behind 5-0 in the first four innings and trailed 6-4 going into the bottom of the ninth, when they loaded the bases with one out, setting the table for Schlach’s game-winning hit.

Catcher Adam Gordon was hit by a pitch to start the inning, then after Jared Grace popped up to third base, Steve Cunningham followed with a single to left field.

Then, a heavy rain shower briefly suspended play for less than 10 minutes, adding a bit more to the drama.

When play resumed, Jared Jeffries singled to center to load the bases for Schalch, whose single scored Gordon and Cunningham to tie the score, with Jeffries racing home with the game-winner when DelState right fielder Troy Drummond slipped on the wet grass, allowing the ball to get by him.

Delaware State (16-32) scored two runs in the first inning and two more in the third off FAMU starter Cirilo Manego (4-4) to build a 4-0 lead.

The Hornets added another run in the fourth to go ahead 5-0, before the Rattlers came to life in the bottom of the frame, striking for three runs to cut the DSU lead to 5-3, keyed by run-scoring singles from Tim Jones and Adam Gordon.

Jones drove in Corey McFadden with a single in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull FAMU within one run, 5-4, but DelState pushed across a run in the eighth to extend their lead to 6-4.

Manego pitched a scoreless ninth setting the stage for the Rattlers’ offensive heroics in the bottom of the inning.

The senior from New Orleans went the distance Thursday for FAMU, scattering 12 hits, while allowing six runs in nine innings, fanning eight and walking four.

DelState reliever Tony Tevis (0-1) took the loss, giving up the three runs on three hits after coming on for starter Josh Schmidt in the ninth.

Jones led FAMU with two hits and an RBI, with Schlach leading six Rattlers with one hit, driving in two runs.

MEAC TOURNAMENT UPDATE: Top-seeded Bethune-Cookman bounced Maryland-Eastern Shore, 13-1 in Thursday’s opener, followed by North Carolina A&T’s 4-2 win over Norfolk State.... Friday’s schedule features an elimination opener between Norfolk State and Maryland-Eastern Shore at 10 a.m., followed by the 2 p.m. winner’s bracket bout between FAMU and North Carolina A&T, the winner of which will face Bethune-Cookman Saturday at 2 p.m.....
Friday’s final game will be another elimination duel featuring Delaware State against the UMES-Norfolk State winner at 6 p.m.