TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – FAMU (2-1) used a four run fifth inning to defeat Wofford (1-2) by a score of 8-7 on Sunday afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field. Aubrey McCarty (1-0) led the way for the Rattlers with the bat and on the mound. McCarty was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI, and a walk. McCarty was also the winning pitcher in his first appearance on the mound for Florida A&M, throwing five complete innings, surrendering only three hits and two runs.
Juniors Brian Davis and Dallas Oliver also had good performances in the batter's box. Davis recorded three hits on the afternoon, including his first double of the season. Oliver delivered a key hit in the fifth inning that broke the game open, when he lined a bases clearing double to left field, scoring three runs.
For the first time in 2017, the Rattlers scored first, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Willis McDaniel led off with a single to left field, and Dallas Oliver followed with a walk, placing runners on first and second. Ty Russ then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, advancing the runners to second and third. Russell Rauh brought in the game's first run, in his first collegiate at bat for Florida A&M, on a groundout to third base.
Wofford answered with two runs of their own in the top of the third inning. Malsch led off with a single to right field, and was followed by a walk to place runners on first and second with no outs. After a sacrifice bunt moved runners to second and third, Terrier three-hole hitter Brett Hash struck out swinging, but reached first on a wild pitch, which also allowed Malsch to score from third. With runners now on the corners, Waln laid down a safety squeeze bunt, and McCarty was unable to get the runner out at home, which gave Wofford their only lead of the game.
The Rattlers added four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 5-2 lead. Kaycee Reese led off with a single off the pitcher's glove. After a Capra fly out to right field, Davis and Ellzey recorded back to back singles, loading the bases for McCarty who promptly singled up the middle, tying the game. With two outs, Dallas Oliver provided a big spark with a bases clearing double, giving him three RBI on the afternoon.
Florida A&M added a single run in the sixth inning courtesy of a sacrifice fly off the bat of Brian Davis. Russell Rauh and Kaycee Reese got things started with back to back walks. Capra then advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, and Davis hit a fly ball to center field, allowing Rauh to tag up and score from third.
The Rattlers extended their lead once again in the seventh inning, this time tacking on two runs. McCarty led off with a single through the right side. With one out, Garrett Wilkinson entered the game and smacked a single to right field. Ty Russ then drove the ball up the middle and McCarty came around to score from second. Russell Rauh recorded his first collegiate hit on a line drive to center field which brought Wilkinson home, pushing the Rattler lead to 8-2.
Wofford made things interesting in the top of the ninth, scoring five runs on four hits and two Rattler errors, but their comeback fell just short as junior Hunter Fillingim forced a fly out to right field to end the game with a final score of 8-7.
Junior transfer, Thomas Nicoll was outstanding in relief for the Rattlers. In his first appearance for FAMU, Nicoll pitched three scoreless innings without surrendering a hit or a walk.
Wofford starter Austin Higginbotham (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing five runs on eight hits and two walks in 4.2 innings of work.
Florida A&M will travel to Auburn on Wednesday, February 22 for their next game where Ben Ellzey will look to continue his 24-game hitting streak dating back to the 2016 season.
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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