Montgomery, Ala. | Florida A&M held a 6-3 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, but couldn't overcome a late surge by Alabama State, falling 7-6 in 10 innings.
After a scoreless opening three innings, FAMU cracked the scoring column in the top of the fourth when
Ethan Jenkins sent a ball sailing over the left field wall for a three-run home run, his first homer of the season, to put the Rattlers up 3-0.
Later in the inning,
Miles Watson laced an RBI single to centerfield, stretching FAMU's lead to 4-0.
ASU picked up one run a piece in the fifth and sixth innings to trim FAMU's lead to 4-2 heading in the seventh inning.
Tucker Rayburn got the scoring started again when he drilled a ball to deep left center field for an RBI.
Seyjuan Lawrence immediately followed that up with an RBI single of his own, driving Rayburn around to score and push the Rattlers' advantage to 6-2.
ASU added a run in the seventh inning to pull with three runs, 6-3.
Headed into the bottom of the ninth inning, it looked as if FAMU had the game all but wrapped up. But the Hornets hit the comeback trail, scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth, forcing extra innings.
In the bottom of the 10
th, with a runner on second base, ASU's Jabronski Williams hit a one out walk-off RBI single give the Hornets the 7-6 victory.
Lawrence led the Rattlers at the plate, picking up three of FAMU's 11 hits going 3-for-5 one RBI.
Two more Rattlers had multi-hit games.
Miles Watson went 2-for-5 with an RBI and
Tucker Rayburn went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Junior pitcher Jeremiah McCollom got his first start of the season, working 2.0 scoreless innings and allowing just one hit while walking one.
Chandellor Benton (1-2) picked up the loss in relief, allowing four runs on five hits while striking out one batter and walking one.
Up Next
FAMU travels to Greensboro, NC to take on Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Southern Division foe North Carolina A&T in a four-game series, beginning on Friday, April 16. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.
