Florida A&M Baseball Clinches MEAC Southern Division Title
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida A&M (28-19, 17-5 MEAC) scored 13 runs in the first two innings and never let up on its way to a 20-4, seven inning, win over North Carolina A&T State (13-39, 6-16 MEAC) at Moore-Kittles Field on Friday. It was the third time this season FAMU defeated N.C. A&T State by a mercy rule.
The Rattlers recorded 14 of its 24 hits in the first two innings, which was the most hits in a game this season and is the 26th time A&M has had 10+ hits in a game in 2016. Every starter recorded at least one hit for the Rattlers, while Alec Wong and Ben Ellzey each went 4-for-4. Wong has extended his streak to 11 straight at bats with a base hit.
The win was the 77th win for head coach Jamey Shouppe, which ties him for second all-time with Joe Durant (2001-2003) for wins over any consecutive three-year period in FAMU Baseball history. Shouppe is three wins away from tying the school record for wins in any three-year span.
Ricky Page (5-3) set a career-high in strikeouts for the second consecutive outing as he finished with nine strikeouts in five innings of work for the win. Page allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and didn’t walk a batter.
Florida A&M used three pitchers in the win and didn’t walk a single batter, while totaling 12 strikeouts, including Cameron Sims strikeout to end the game.
Marlon Gibbs (2-for-2), Brian Davis (2-for-3), Jacky Miles, Jr. (3-for-5), Willis McDaniel (2-for-4) and Peter Jackson (3-for-5) all had multi-hit performances, while Davis (four RBI), Miles, Jr. (three RBI), Ellzey (five RBI), McDaniel (two RBI) and Jackson (four RBI) had multi- RBI performances. The four RBI for Jackson was a career high as well as the five RBI for Ellzey.
Florida A&M and North Carolina A&T State will close out their regular season schedule on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. Fans are encouraged to arrive early as we will have a special ceremony to recognize our 2016 senior class.
For more information visit www.famuathletics.com or www.ncataggies.com.
Bethune-Cookman Splits Twinbill At Savannah State
SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Bethune-Cookman used Tyler Krull's five-hitter in the nightcap to salvage a split of a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference doubleheader Friday afternoon at Savannah State.
The Tigers took the opener 10-6 before the Wildcats recovered and posted a 5-1 victory.
Krull walked two and struck out seven for the second straight start as he improved to 3-1.
Rakeem Quinn went 3-3 and scored three runs for the Wildcats (24-25, 16-7 MEAC South). Demetrius Sims brought Quinn in twice with a sacrifice fly in the first and an infield single in the seventh. Quinn also scored on a Michael Cruz single in the fifth.
Josten Heron broke open a 1-1 tie in the third when he scored on a passed ball. Danny Rodriguez made it a 3-1 game in the fourth when he doubled and scored on an error.
Cruz went 2-4 for the Wildcats in the second game.
Savannah State (12-39,6-17) snapped the Wildcats' seven-game conference winning streak in the opener by jumping out to a 4-0 first inning lead and answering Clay Middleton's two-run homer in the second with three runs in the bottom half.
Cruz had two RBI for the Wildcats on the opener. Quinn and Middleton each had two hits, and Sims and Quinn each scored twice.
The Wildcats and Tiger conclude the series and the regular season Saturday at 1 p.m.
For more information visit www.bcuathletics.com or www.ssuathletics.com
Hornets Squander Solid Pitching In Extra Inning Loss To UMBC
BALTIMORE, Md. --- Mitchell Carroll doubled in Tim Kelly with one out in the 11th inning to give Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) a 3-2 walk-off win over Delaware State at UMBC’s Alumni Field.
The loss overshadowed a solid pitching effort by the Hornets, who allowed just eight hits and struck out seven in the three-hour-26-minute affair.
Lane DeLeon started for DSU. He allowed just three hits and one run, while striking out two in five innings. Darrien Ragins threw two innings in relief, giving up two hits and one run to go along with two strikeouts.
Garrett Coverdale was next on the mound for the Hornets. He allowed just one hit and struck out two in 2.1 scoreless innings. Hunter McVey entered the game in the 10th inning for DSU. UMBC had the potential game-winning run at third with one, but McVey did not allow the run to score. He did give up two hits in the 11th, including Carroll’s game-winning double.
The Hornets stranded 12 men on base, including three in the 10th inning. The Retrievers left 10 on base.
Delaware State fell to 13-35, while UMBC improved to 25-20 this season.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com