ITTA BENA, Miss. — Florida A&M's softball program had no mercy on the road Friday.
The Rattlers pummeled Mississippi Valley State in back-to-back run-rule victories — 19-2 and 12-1 — to complete a dominant doubleheader sweep at Itta Bena, outscoring the Delta Devilettes 31-3 across the two five-inning contests.
Amari Brown,
Samantha Smith and
Zoryana Hughes each delivered standout performances as FAMU improved to 25-17 overall and 14-2 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play.
GAME ONE: Florida A&M 19, Mississippi Valley 2
It was over almost before it started.
FAMU sent the lineup around repeatedly, erupting for four runs in the first, three in the second, three in the third and — in case there was any doubt — eight more in the fourth to cruise to a 19-2 run-rule victory. The Rattlers collected 20 hits and drew seven walks against a Delta Valley pitching staff that couldn't find answers for anyone in the batting order.
Brown was the offensive centerpiece, going 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and six RBI. She drove in two with a first-inning single, homered to right-center in the second with a runner aboard, then capped the fourth-inning eruption with a two-run double that pushed the score to 16-2. Smith matched her in the power department, belting a two-run home run in the fourth while also finishing 2-for-4 with four RBI.
Madison Jenkins was a quiet force throughout, going 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI out of the seven hole.
Braxtyn Battle went 2-for-3 with a stolen base, and
Jamison Townsend tripled and scored on a wild pitch during the third-inning rally.
Hughes worked the first three innings in the circle, allowing two runs on seven hits with a strikeout before
Sariah Espada closed out the final two frames on one hit with no runs allowed. Hughes improved to 11-4.
The loss — Mississippi Valley's 33rd of the season — fell on Ashtyn Clark, who allowed all 19 runs and 20 hits in five innings while walking seven.
Key performers, Game 1:
GAME TWO: Florida A&M 12, Mississippi Valley 1
The nightcap was more of the same — just with a different hero.
Makayla Register launched a home run, tripled and drove in two runs.
Neriah Lee doubled home three in a first inning that never really ended, as FAMU sent 15 batters to the plate and scored 11 times before Mississippi Valley recorded the third out. The Rattlers finished with 10 hits and drew six walks in a 12-1 run-rule win.
The first inning was a complete unraveling for Mississippi Valley. Ashtyn Clark issued three consecutive walks to open the game and was pulled without recording a single out, already trailing 3-0. Devyn Dotson inherited the mess, hit a batter, issued two more walks and gave up an
Amya Ramos RBI single, a Register RBI fielder's choice, and an
Aniya Canty HBP-RBI before Lee cleared the bases with a three-run double to make it 8-0. DeLeslin singled home another, and Brown tripled to drive in one more before Spooner capped the inning with an RBI single for an 11-0 lead.
Register led off the second with a solo home run to left-center, pushing the margin to 12-0 before Mississippi Valley scratched across a run in the bottom half on a Marika Bonner groundout.
Espada earned her second win of the season, pitching all five innings and allowing just one earned run on two hits with five strikeouts.
Key performers, Game 2:
DOUBLEHEADER COMBINED NOTES
E — None (FAMU). Records: Florida A&M 25-17, 14-2 SWAC; Mississippi Valley 1-34, 0-16 SWAC.
FAMU has now won seven consecutive SWAC games and is outscoring conference opponents by a combined margin of 50-10 during that stretch. Hughes (11-4) and Espada (2-2) each picked up wins on the day, and Brown's six-RBI first game gives her strong series momentum heading into the back half of conference play.?????????
