Rattlers Complete Series Sweep of NCA&T Aggies With Extra Innings Win
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Florida A&M Rattlers (10-16, 7-4 MEAC) won their 10th game of the season for the first time since 2011, as they defeated the North Carolina A&T Aggies, 11-7 in 10 innings in a highly-contest MEAC Southern Division series at War Memorial Stadium in Greensboro, N.C. With the win, the Rattlers also got their seventh conference win for the first time since 2009, when they won 10 conference games.
The Rattlers scored in the first inning as pitcher Blake Quillin, who reached base on a single, moved around the bases to score on a NCAT error. The Aggies would fight back in the bottom of the first and get the run back as Luke Tendler, who finished the day 3-for-5, scored the first of two runs he would score on the day.
FAMU would add one more run in the second, before exploding for four runs in the top of the third inning, giving them a 6-1 lead. FAMU maintained that lead until the bottom of the seventh, where NCAT erupted for six runs, aided by FAMU errors. FAMU allowed three runners on base, by way of errors, walks and a batter hit by Quillin, before they scored the first run of the inning on a sacrifice fly. At the conclusion of the seventh, the Rattlers found themselves down 7-6.
Peter Jackson and Taylor Strauss, who played in a reserve role for FAMU, played valuable roles in the eventual comeback. Jackson singled in the eighth, and eventually scored after being moved over by a Strauss at-bat. After reaching first on a fielder’s choice, Strauss stole second base.
Bennie Robinson, Ryan Kennedy and Marlon Gibbs all had two hits each. Jeremy Barlow’s numbers don’t look good in the books, but he managed two RBIs, matched only by Jackson’s pair for the Rattlers.
Quillin started the game on the mound, lasting one and one-third innings before being relieved by Kendal Weeks. Weeks would perform masterfully as he went three and one-third innings, allowing just one hit. Jordan Montague (5 innings), John Roberts , and Brandon Fleming(0.1 innings) all spent time on the mound.
Luke Tedler went for a game high three hits for the Aggies; also scoring two runs. Cameron Jergens and Lester Salcedo had two RBIs each, with Jergens adding two hits. FAMU took advantage of Mitchell McQueen (2 innings/6 hits/6 runs/4 ER) and Justin Godette (2 innings/3 hits/4 runs/2 ER) on the mound for NCAT.
FAMU returns to action on Wednesday, with anon-conference game against Florida Gulf Coast in a 1 p.m. start at Moore-Kittles Field.
The Rattlers now remain in first place of the MEAC Southern Division, with a 7-4 conference record. They lead the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats by a half game, who own a 7-5 conference record. The Rattlers and Wildcats will go head-to-head in Daytona this weekend for a crucial conference three-game series, with Sunday’s finale to be broadcast on ESPNU.
For complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com or www.ncataggies.com
Bethune-Cookman Converts Long Baseball Day for Series Victory over Savannah State
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Concluding in a big, full day of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) baseball action, the Bethune-Cookman series versus Savannah State worked through lows and highs, but the Wildcats finished on the upswing, winning the series 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, claiming victories of 4-3 and 5-1 with a 5-0 loss in the opener.
With the series schedule shifted to accommodate anticipated weather problems, the Wildcats (15-14, 7-5 MEAC) and Tigers (10-18, 3-9 MEAC) worked through a gritty opener, hoping to beat out the incoming storms.
The Tigers jumped out to a middle-innings lead on Saturday (March 29), first moving out front on a Tre Sikes RBI single through the right side in the top of the fourth, adding another on a Parker Nix fielder’s choice. The Tigers capped off the frame a third run by Sikes, capitalizing on a pair of B-CU errors to go up 3-0.
As the storms moved in, the game was halted before opening the seventh and the teams returned to action on Sunday (March 30) morning in advance of a scheduled doubleheader.
With only three innings to work with, the Wildcats never got momentum to tack runs up on the scoreboard. Meanwhile, the Tigers extended their lead, with Sikes first putting an RBI triple into right field, and later scoring on a sacrifice bunt by Nix to take a 5-0 lead.
The Wildcats had opportunities, but couldn’t produce the big hit, leaving eight runners on base through the series opener. SSU starter Austin Denney (3-1) went six innings to earn the win, striking out four and walking none in the shutout, yielding to Ethan Glass (1), who picked up the save. B-CU starter Keith Zuniga (3-3) took the loss, throwing six innings.
The first game of the doubleheader was the polar opposite for the Wildcats, as timely hitting and zeroing-in on the big-hit situations was the key to B-CU’s victory to split the series.
Although the Tigers got on the board early, thanks to Mendez Elder’s two-out home run to right field, the Wildcats remained patient and gained momentum through the mid-to-late innings.
Trailing 1-0 for four innings, the Wildcats strung together consecutive singles from first baseman Eric Sams and catcher Zach Olszewski in the bottom of the fifth. Junior third baseman Jordan Robinson made it count with a two-run opposite-field triple into right field to push the Wildcats ahead 2-1.
As the Wildcats held onto the slight lead, the Tigers threatened in the seventh, using a Zachary Brigham RBI single and Ian Farris sac bunt to pull back ahead. However, this time the Wildcats were quick to respond.
In the bottom half of the frame, shortstop Shaun McCarty led off with a single to right field, and Sams followed with an RBI triple deep down the right field line to tie the game. Robinson again produced the clutch play, bringing Sams home on a sacrifice fly for the 4-3 advantage.
After locking down the Tigers’ push as a reliever in the seventh, left-hander John Sever (3-1) completed the final two frames to earn the win, closing the ninth with three consecutive strikeouts to even the series.
Middle reliever Ryan McCranie took the loss for SSU, throwing 2.1 innings, while allowing the go-ahead run in the seventh.
In the series finale, the Wildcats jumped on the Tigers from the opening frame, claiming a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first on Eros Modena’s RBI single up the middle to bring Olszewski home.
Starting his first conference series of the season, senior right-hander Montana Durapau gave the Wildcats the breathing room to be patient with the lead, as the Wildcats added two more in the third on McCarty’s two-run left field single, and capped the scoring with a Modena two-run single through the left side to go up 5-0 in the fourth.
Durapau held the Tigers without a run through four complete frames, but SSU tallied its lone run of the contest in the fifth on a Brigham RBI single.
After throwing five, Durapau yielded to sophomore right-hander Michael Austin, who allowed no hits and no runs through the final two innings, striking out one. Durapau (6-0) earned the win, striking out four with just one walk.
Despite the shutout in game one, the Wildcats outhit the Tigers, and Olszewski (2-for-3), Matt Noble (2-for-4) and Josh Johnson (2-for-4) each recorded a pair of hits each. In the second game, Robinson proved to be the hero, despite a 1-for-4 batting performance, recording both the early go-ahead RBI and the winning run. Meanwhile, Sams scored two runs and had one RBI, while hitting 2-for-3. In the finale, Modena proved crucial, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and one run scored.
The Wildcats have a busy midweek ahead in south Florida, first Meeting 29th-ranked FIU in a road rematch on Tuesday (April 1), before heading to Coral Gables to go for the sweep at Miami (FL). Over the weekend, the Wildcats will take on a crucial three-game MEAC series with cross-state rival Florida A&M in the final home contests of the year.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com or www.ssuathletics.com
NCCU loses late lead as Alabama State complete sweep
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Leading 7-5 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, Alabama State used a four run rally to take the lead over North Carolina Central University and held on for the 9-8 victory and the series sweep on Sunday at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex in Montgomery, Ala.
Alabama State (24-8, 12-1 SWAC) took a 5-0 lead in the first inning that began with three straight singles and a base clearing double by Waldyvan Estrada as the Hornets racked up six hits in the opening frame.
The cardiac Eagles did not back down, as freshman Bryant Battle ripped the first of his two doubles on the day to left field scoring James Dey as NCCU scored three runs on two hits to make it 5-3 in favor of Alabama State. The other hit in the frame was a second double by redshirt junior Eric Kimber.
In the top of the sixth, the Eagles threw another haymaker at the Hornets taking their first lead of the day on a second three-run frame. Kimber and freshman Jake Cagle both recorded RBI singles, but it was sophomore Kory Wood’s RBI ground out that gave the maroon and gray the lead at 6-5.
The Eagles made it 7-5 in the top of the seventh frame on Christian Triplett’s RBI single that scored Tyson Simpson and gave the maroon and gray a two-run advantage.
NCCU (9-17-1, 6-5 MEAC) held that lead until the bottom of the eight when ASU scored four runs to take a 9-7 lead, Battle’s second double of the day helped the Eagles cut the deficit to one at 9-8, but the maroon and gray fell short as the next two batters flew out and struck out as the Hornets held on for the win.
Four Eagles recorded two hits in the loss, while Battle, Triplett, and Kimber all recorded two RBI apiece. The 11 hits for NCCU were the most since March 11 when the maroon and gray recorded 14 against Coppin State.
NCCU gets back to action on Wednesday, April 2 as the Trojans of Virginia State University come to the Bull City for a midweek doubleheader matchup between two old CIAA foes. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m. from the Durham Athletic Park.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com