TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Rattlers (1-1) dropped a tightly played ball game to Wofford (1-1) by a score of 3-2 on Saturday afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field. Wofford starter Spencer Kulman (1-0) scattered seven hits and two runs across six innings to earn Wofford's first victory of the season.
FAMU was led at the plate by junior Aubrey McCarty and senior Ben Ellzey. McCarty was 3-for-4 on the day with a triple and an RBI, while Ellzey was 2-for-4 with a run scored. With two hits today, Ellzey is on a 23-game hitting streak continuing from the 2016 season.
Sophomores Willis McDaniel and Kaycee Reese also swung the bat well, both collecting two hits on the afternoon.
Once again the Terriers jumped out to an early lead, scoring one run in the top of the first inning. Max McDougald struck out swinging, but reached first base on a wild pitch. After a single by Brett Hash and a walk by Mack Nathanson, Wofford had the bases loaded with one out. Cody Miller hit a sharp groundball to third base and Ben Ellzey made a terrific diving play to save multiple runs and got the force out at third base, allowing only one runner to score.
Wofford added another run in the second inning when McDougald capped a ground ball off the end of the bat up the first base line with the bases loaded. Anderson recorded the out at first, but Reed Massey scored from third on the play, pushing the lead to 2-0.
The Rattlers loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth with no outs but Kulmer pitched his way out of trouble. Ellzey and McCarty led off the inning with back to back singles to left field. With no outs and runners on first and second, Willis McDaniel laid a bunt down the third base line for a single, loading the bases with no outs for Cameron Johnson. After Johnson struck out looking, Kulmer induced a ground ball to shortstop off the bat of junior Austin Michaud for a double play to end the Rattler threat.
Florida A&M pushed across its first runs of the day in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ellzey led off with a hard single through the left side. McCarty then laced a triple down the right field line for his third hit of the day, scoring Ellzey from first. Willis McDaniel brought in the final run of the inning on a ground out to second base, for the final score of 3-2.
The Rattlers had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth inning after Willis McDaniel led off with a single to right field and was moved into scoring position on a soft ground ball to first by Cameron Johnson. Terrier reliever Jordan Accetta retired the next two Rattler batters to end the game.
Accetta threw three scoreless innings out of the bullpen for Wofford, allowing two hits with two strikeouts to earn his first save of the season.
Florida A&M starter Ryan Anderson (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing seven hits and three earned runs with four strikeouts and two walks in five innings pitched. Rattler relievers Ty Russ and Jamie Grant both pitched very well, combining for four scoreless innings of relief, surrendering only one hit with four strikeouts.
Florida A&M and Wofford will wrap up the series tomorrow at 1pm at Moore-Kittles field.
As always, fans can follow Rattler Baseball on Twitter @BaseballFAMU and on Facebook. Live Stats are also available on the baseball schedule page of FAMUAthletics.com.
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