Rattlers Blows Lead in Loss to Jackson State
JACKSON, Miss. – Florida A&M (3-4) squandered a 9-3 lead as Jackson State (4-3) used a 10-run fifth inning to defeat the Rattlers by a score of 16-9 on Sunday at Bob Braddy Field.
FAMU took a six run lead into the bottom of the fifth inning, but a rough inning by the pitching staff not able to throw strikes cost Florida A&M the lead. The pitching staff walked 10 batters in the loss and hit two batters. FAMU had 14 hits as the offense tried to do its’ part. Alec Wong went 4-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored, while Dylan Dillard went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored.
Marlon Gibbs (2-for-5) and Brian Davis (2-for-4) each added multi-hit performances for the Florida A&M offense. Gibbs also scored two runs and Davis had three more RBI, 10 on the weekend, and his second home run of the season.
Rattler reliver Ryan Kopenski (0-1) took the loss as his batter served as the go ahead run in the fifth inning. Kopenski allowed three runs on one hit with two walks. Starter Ricky Page had a strong start, but fell off in the fourth inning. Page allowed three runs on two hits with three walks and one strikeout in 3.2 innings of work. All his runs came in the fourth inning.
The Rattlers close out their seven game road trip at Mercer this week with a pair of mid-week games on Tuesday and Wednesday. First pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 6:00 PM ET, while Wednesday’s game is set for a 4:00 PM ET start.
For complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com
Spartans Win First Game of Year, Split Doubleheader with NJIT
NORFOLK, Va. - Matt Outman pitched a six-hit shutout, Angelo Rosario hit a grand slam and Syeed Mahdi added a solo shot to help Norfolk State win its first game of the year Sunday, 16-0 over NJIT at Marty L. Miller Field. The Highlanders rebounded to take game two of the doubleheader, 9-2, to split the doubleheader.
Outman (1-0) fanned seven and walked none in his third career shutout. His offense racked up 12 hits, eight of the extra-base variety, in the seven-inning affair. The Spartans (1-5) had six doubles, two by Brian Beard.
In the nightcap, Devin Hemmerich (0-1) took the loss for NSU, allowing seven hits and five runs - four earned - in five innings of work. He struck out five.
Beard was 2-for-3 with two runs scored in the nightcap, and went 4-for-5 with three RBI on the day. Kyle Vaas doubled and tripled in the second game.
The teams play another doubleheader Monday starting at 11 a.m.
For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com
NCCU Allows Four Runs in Ninth, Falls To Niagara
DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University was just three outs away from a four-game weekend sweep over Niagara University. However, the visitors erased a two-run deficit by scoring four runs in the ninth inning, then got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the frame to escape Durham Athletic Park with a dramatic 12-11 victory on Sunday.
NCCU (3-4) jumped out to a 4-0 advantage at the end of three innings thanks to a pair of two-run home runs by sophomore left fielder Bryant Battle and junior catcher Conrad Kovalcik.
Niagara (2-6) tallied two runs in the top of the fourth to cut the margin in half, but NCCU junior center fielder Carlos Ortiz hit a three-run bomb over the right field wall to increase the home team’s cushion to 7-2 after four innings.
Niagara outscored the host Eagles 6-3 in the next four innings to set up the ninth-inning excitement.
The visiting Eagles plated four runs in the final frame with only one hit, as NCCU issued five walks and committed an error.
NCCU threatened in the bottom of the ninth, as junior third baseman Ellington Hopkins recorded his third hit of the contest and later scored on a bases-loaded walk. The four-hour, 50-minute contest ended with NCCU stranding the bases loaded, finishing the day with 14 runners left on base.
Ortiz added a triple to his three-run home run for five RBI. Junior right fielder Zachary Marszal added two hits and an RBI, while Battle finished with a pair of hits, as well.
NCCU returns to action on Tuesday against Appalachian State inside Durham Athletic Park at 4 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com
Late inning comeback not enough for Hawks
RICHMOND, Va. — After dropping a 15-0 decision to the Richmond Spiders yesterday, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) baseball team sought for a better outcome in Sunday’s series finale. Unfortunately, despite a late comeback with three runs in the eighth inning, the Hawks lost to the Spiders by a final of 7-4.
Sophomore Scott Bean got his first start of the season, and the Spiders (6-1) were quick to give him an abruptly rude welcome. Bean surrendered five earned runs in just over three innings with three free passes. Classmate and sophomore Chris Melrath and senior Devin Repine followed the start in just under five innings of effective relief, giving up just two hits.
The Hawks resume play this Friday in another city called Richmond, when the team travels to the Bluegrass State to play Eastern Kentucky in a four-game series.
For complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com