SALISBURY, Md. – Florida A&M (21-23, 15-9 MEAC) used a three-run seventh inning and a strong relief performance from Brandon Fleming to defeat Savannah State (21-32, 12-12 MEAC) 7-4 on Wednesday night in the Rattlers opening game of the MEAC Tournament.
The FAMU offense out-hit the Tigers 12-10 as Alec Wong, Ryan Kennedy, Brian Davis and Jeremy Barlow tallied multi-hit performances. The Rattlers will face Delaware State on Thursday at 4:00 PM in a winner’s bracket game.
FAMU reliever Fleming (7-1) picked up the win after tossing 5 2/3 innings of relief and allowing just one run on three hits. Fleming tied a season-high with four strikeouts and no walks on the night.
The Tigers scored first as Mendez Elder led off the game with a solo home run over the fence in left field for an early 1-0 lead.
SSU pushed its’ lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning. Jonathan Moore was hit-by-pitch to start the third and Harrison Moore followed with a single through the left side to put runners at first and second. After Charles Sikes struckout, Zachary Brigham reached on a fielder’s choice as Rattler shortstop AJ Elkins misplayed a grounder on a would-be double play ball that allowed Moore to come around and score. Michael McHugh later plated Harrison Moore for the second run of the inning with an RBI single to right field.
FAMU cut the Tiger lead to 3-1 in the third inning as Wong smashed a solo home run to right field.
The Rattlers would take their first lead of the game, at 4-3, with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Davis and Barlow would record back-to-back singles to start the home half of the fourth. Kendal Weeks then struck out after trying to put down a sacrifice bunt before Peter Jackson drew a walk to load the bases. Davis then scored from third, on a squeeze play, as Jared Walker laid down a nice sacrifice bunt up the first base line. With runners on second and third, Michael Birdsong’s pinch-hit, two-run single gave FAMU its’ first lead of the game.
Savannah State answered to tie the game, at 4-4, on Hector Benitez’s RBI groundout in the fifth inning that plated Brigham from third. Brigham had led off the inning with a double to right and moved to third on a groundout by Michael McHugh.
Florida A&M regained the lead in what proved to be the final score of 7-4 with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Rattlers had four straight hits with one out, including two doubles in the inning. Marlon Gibbs, Kennedy, Elkins and Davis recorded four straight hits with one out to get the offense rolling. With Gibbs on first, Kennedy’s single to center got by Hector Benitez which allowed Gibbs to score the go-ahead run and Kennedy to advance to second. Elkins then doubled to left center to bring home Kennedy. Davis capped off the seventh inning scoring as he followed with another double down the right field line to plate Elkins.
Savannah State starter Austin Denney (4-4) suffered the loss after allowing seven runs on 12 hits in 6 1/3 innings of work. Denney fanned seven Rattler batters with two walks.
Florida A&M will face Delaware State on Thursday at 4:00 PM in a winner’s bracket game. The winner will advance to the Championship round. The Hornets had two upset wins on Wednesday after defeating South #2 seed Bethune-Cookman and North #1 seed Norfolk State.