Greensboro, N.C. | Florida A&M claimed its first victory of the season on a Sunday afternoon at the Aggie Softball Complex. The Rattlers earned a 3-2 victory in extra innings in game one of Sunday's doubleheader, before falling in game two, 8-6.
Game 1
With the Rattlers trailing 1-0 in the top of the second inning,
Brandice Boatwright worked her way in to scoring position after drawing a walk and advancing to third base on back-to-back wild pitches.
Shontell Cliatt hit an RBI single up the middle, scoring Boatwright and tying the game at one.
A&T regained the lead in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly.
With the game in the balance in the seventh inning, the Rattlers came up big. Boatwright drew a leadoff walk to give FAMU a baserunner.
Kyami Cruz came in pinch run, while
Anizya Vargas entered the game to pinch hit for Cliatt.
Vargas laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving Cruz into scoring position.
Janae Brown then hit an RBI single to right field, tying the game 2-2.
In the eighth inning, Boatwright hit a single through the left side of the infield to load the bases with two away. A&T threw a wild pitch scoring Boatwright from third and putting the Rattlers up for good, 3-2.
Gabriella Williams (1-5) earned her first victory of the season. Williams tossed a complete game, allowing just two runs on six hits and striking out two.
Game 2
The second contest featured a bit more offense than what was on display in game one and was truly a back and forth affair.
Melkayla Irvis and Seriah Brokenborugh had big games at the plate with Irvis going 3-for-4 with a double and one RBI, and Brokenborough turning in a 3-for-4 performance with an RBI of her own.
Irvis got things started in the third inning when she cranked her team leading fourth double of the season, to left field. After advancing to third on a ground ball, Irvis scored when
Kenyaamari Jones singled to right field to tie the game at one.
With FAMU down 2-1 in the fifth inning, she scored her second run of the game when Brokenborough blasted an RBI double to the left centerfield gap.
The lead didn't last long as A&T responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning to grab a 5-2 lead.
I
n the fifth inning, FAMU got the lead to two, when Irvis hit an RBI single to second base, allowing Vargas to score.
The Rattlers gained the lead in the seventh inning, jumping ahead 6-5 on in the strength of a three-run homer by Boatwright. It was the first long ball by the Rattlers of the season.
However, A&T scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, including two-run walk off homerun to escape with the 8-6 win.
On Deck
FAMU returned to the friendly confines of the Rattler Softball Complex for a four-game weekend series with North Carolina Central on March 27 and 28. Both days will feature doubleheaders with first pitch on Saturday set for 1 p.m.
