Tallahassee, Fla. | Florida A&M Baseball earned a 3-1 victory over Florida Gulf Coast in the first game of a doubleheader at Moore-Kittles Field on Saturday, before falling in game two, 9-4.
Game 1
In a game where hits came at a premium, starting pitcher
Kelyn Fox (2-1) earned the victory, tossing a complete game allowing just one run on four hits and striking out five batters (7.0 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP).
While FAMU was outhit 4-3 by the Eagles, the Rattlers played flawless defense, committing no errors. FGCU, in comparison, made two costly errors that spelled their doom.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Rattlers put its first two base runners in scoring position when
Octavien Moyer was hit by a pitch in FAMU's first at-bat, and Pierini followed up drawing a walk. Junior utility player,
Jared Weber, made things interesting when he laid down a bunt to the left side of the infield fielded by the pitcher Ronaldo Gallo.
Gallo's throw to first base sailed into the outfield scoring Moyer. A second throwing error on the play brought Pierini across the plate, giving the Rattlers an early 2-1 cushion.
JD Tease picked up his fourth RBI of the season when he hit a groundball that scored Weber from third.
Those three runs proved to be enough for FAMU, as the FGCU's bats were held in check the rest of the way.
Game 2
The second contest featured a bit more offense that what was on display in the early game.
FAMU got things started early, jumping out to an early 1-0 lead when Weber hit an RBI single to left field to bring Moyer around to score.
Starting pitcher,
Shawn Host, left the game after 1.1 innings pitched when was hit in his arm with a line drive up the middle.
With the Rattlers trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the second, Moyer picked up his second hit in as many innings when he drilled a two RBI triple to left field giving FAMU a 3-2 lead.
FGCU, however, built a 6-3 lead heading in the bottom of the sixth.
Seyjuan Lawrence hit his first homerun of the year when he hit a no doubter over the left field fence to pull the Rattlers within two (6-4).
The Eagles added three runs in the seventh to claim the 9-4 victory.
Carter Slentz worked 3.0 innings, allowing just one run on five hits with one strikeout (3.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 K, 1 BB, 1 WP, 1 HBP).
Benjamin Krizen (1-1) picked up the loss for the Rattlers (1.1IP, 3 H, 3R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K).
On Deck
FAMU looks for its second series win of the season on Sunday, as the Rattlers and Eagles meet for the series finale. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. (Noon).
