Tallahassee, Fla. | Florida A&M baseball sits in sole possession of first place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Southern Division after splitting another doubleheader with North Carolina Central at Moore-Kittles Field on Sunday afternoon.
After dropping the first game of the day 5-4 in extra innings, FAMU bounced back with a 4-2 victory in the series finale.
Game 1
FAMU pushed NCCU to extra innings but couldn't fend off the Eagles in a 5-4 loss.
Jospeh Pierini led the Rattlers at the plate going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. As a team, FAMU picked up six hits in total.
The Rattlers opened a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on strength of an RBI double by Pierini and a sacrifice fly by
Jared Weber.
FAMU starter
Josh Barr started the game on fire, tossing three scoreless and hitless innings before giving up three runs on three hits in the top of the fourth.
Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, and in desperate need of runs, Weber came through in the clutch with a RBI triple, cutting NCCU's lead to one. One batter later, Weber tied the game when he scored on a wild pitch.
After scoreless seventh inning, NCCU pushed ahead in the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the eighth, FAMU got runners to first and second, but couldn't score.
Jeremiah McCollom (1-2) was saddled with the loss after working 1.1 innings in relief, surrendering one run on two hits while striking out two batters.
Game 2
In the series finale, FAMU relied on a pair of homeruns to lift them to victory.
Senior catcher
Tucker Rayburn brought the crowd to their feet when he smacked a three-run homer to deep right-centerfield to give the Rattlers a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.
The Eagles tacked on two runs in the top of the third inning, trimming the Rattlers lead to 3-2.
In the bottom of the fifth,
LJ Bryant smacked a homerun to left center field, giving the Rattlers a two-run cushion.
Kyle Coleman (0-4) got the start for the Rattlers. He worked 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits.
Zach Morea (3-0) and
Chandellor Benton combined to pitch 4.0 innings, surrendering no runs whi8le striking out four batters. Morea picked up the win in relief.
On Deck
FAMU travels to Jacksonville, Fla. for a contest versus the University of North Florida on Wednesday, April 28. First pitch is set for 3:05 p.m.