Florida Gators Chomp Rattlers, 22-1
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The Florida A&M baseball team dropped a 22-1 decision to the University of Florida Monday night at McKethan Stadium in nonconference action.
UF (26-23) garnered a game high 23 hit as both Richie Martin and Zack Powers finished with three hits each for the Gators.
FAMU (7-42) finished with three hits as Aaron Smith, Tevin Covington and Bennie Robinson tallied one hit each for the Rattlers.
Justin Shafer (1-1) picked up the win for the Gators as he gave up two hits, one earned run and striking out eight in the six innings of work, while John Roberts (2-2) received loss for the Rattlers as he pitched two and one-third innings, allowing five hits, six earned runs and recording one strikeout in the 17 batters he faced.
UF jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Martin scored on a Powers sacrifice fly to left field and then Casey Turgeon would score on a Harris Bader bases-loaded walk.
The Gators added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning as Bader recorded his second RBI of the game on single center field, scoring Justin Shafer, followed by a Corey Reid single scoring Powers and a Richie Martin double to centerfield would score both Bade and Reid. Then Dent would score on a Turgeon ground out to second base, followed by a Taylor single scoring Martin, giving UF a 8-0 lead.
Smith cut UF’s lead to 8-1 with a homer to left field in the top of the fourth inning.
The Gators plated three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning with Powers scoring on a Bader single, followed by a Cody Dent two-run blast to right field, making the score 11- 1 in favor of UF.
UF made the score 18-1 as they scored one run in the bottom of the fifth and six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Gators plated four more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for the 22-1 finale.
For the complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com.
Garner Leads Bethune-Cookman in 9-3 Win Over Savannah State
SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (30-21, 17-7 MEAC) delivered the crucial series-winning victory over Savannah State (28-20, 16-7 MEAC), Monday at Tiger Baseball Field. Using underclass performances and Scott Garner’s three-hitter, the Wildcats cruised to a 9-3 victory and a half-game MEAC Southern division lead.
The Wildcats injected some new, younger faces into Monday’s lineup, and it paid off in the top of the third, as three consecutive freshman base hits jumpstarted B-CU, opening on a leadoff line drive single from catcher Clay Middleton. Michael Austin joined him with a single to center, and Jordan Thomas plated his classmates with a two-run line drive double over third base. Thomas crossed the plate himself on Brandon Turner’s pulled line RBI drive through the right side for the 3-0 lead.
Anthony Stokes dropped in a single to load the bases and Eric Sams’ RBI walk hastened the end of starter Rexford Davis’ appearance, introducing Ethan Glass from the Bullpen. Jake Welch capped off the five-run frame with an RBI walk before Glass retired the side trailing 5-0.
Glass held the Cats just long enough for the Tigers to enter the scorebook, as SSU tacked up one run on an RBI double deep to left center in the bottom of the fourth, cutting the B-CU lead to four runs.
The Wildcats came on strong again in the top of the fifth with a boost from the underclass, as sophomore Welch put a well-placed two-run double into right center to extend the ‘Cats lead to six. Welch advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on another. Austin added an RBI single to right, wrapping up the four-run inning with a 9-1 Wildcats lead.
Ferguson earned his first career save, holding off the Tigers across three innings on the hill, allowing one earned run on one hit and two walks.
A pair of errors in the bottom of the seventh allowed Drew Quinney to add to the Tigers’ total, coming home on an overthrown pickoff after reaching third on a wild pitch. SSU scored its third and final run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth, with the Wildcats claiming a 9-3 victory and 2-1 win in the series.
Welch led the Wildcats with three RBI on 1-for-3 batting, while Thomas was 1-for-4 with two RBI, and Austin went 2-for-4, adding another RBI. Underclassmen playing in the game accounted for six hits and six runs.
For the complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com or www.ssuathletics.com.