JACKSON, Miss. — Florida A&M opened Southwestern Athletic Conference play Friday with a strong showing on the road, powering past Jackson State 10-3 in the opener behind a balanced offensive attack before the Tigers answered with a 3-1 win in the second game, leaving the Rattlers with a split to begin league play.
Florida A&M used timely hitting and a complete-game effort from
Zoryana Hughes to control the first game, then jumped out early again in the nightcap before Jackson State rallied. The split moved the Rattlers to 10-12 overall and 1-1 in SWAC play.
Game 1: Florida A&M 10, Jackson State 3
Florida A&M set the tone in the opener with 11 hits and a big response whenever Jackson State threatened.
The Rattlers broke through in the third inning when
Michaela Fernandez scored the game's first run. Florida A&M added two more in the fourth on
Aniya Canty's two-run double that scored
Keeleigh Spooner and
Makayla Register for a 3-0 lead.
After Jackson State pulled even at 2-2, Florida A&M answered with the game's biggest swing in the fifth.
Amari Brown delivered a three-run home run to score
Monroe Oglesby and
Jamison Townsend, putting the Rattlers back in front 5-2 and regaining control.
Florida A&M continued to build its lead in the sixth and seventh innings, finishing with 10 runs on 11 hits. Brown went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs, while Canty finished 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs.
Amaya Pitt added a double and an RBI, and Spooner drove in a run as well.
Hughes earned the win in the circle, tossing a complete game. She allowed three earned runs on five hits, walked two and struck out two. Florida A&M's pitching staff also limited Jackson State to 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Game 2: Jackson State 3, Florida A&M 1
Florida A&M struck first in the second game, but Jackson State kept the Rattlers from generating much offense after the opening inning.
Neriah Lee helped Florida A&M grab a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, tripling and later scoring the Rattlers' only run of the game. From there, Jackson State settled in and held Florida A&M scoreless over the final six innings.
The Tigers answered with three runs across the remainder of the contest to secure the split. Lee finished 1-for-2 with a triple to lead the Rattlers offensively.
Samantha Smith took the loss for Florida A&M. Despite the setback, the Rattlers left Jackson with a conference-opening win and a split on the road to begin SWAC play.
