ITTA BENA, Miss. -- Amari Brown went a perfect 3-for-3 with a home run and five RBI, and
Braxtyn Battle reached base all four plate appearances as Florida A&M erupted for 16 runs on 17 hits Saturday, cruising to a 16-1 mercy-rule victory over Mississippi Valley State in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. The game was called after five innings.
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The Rattlers, who improved to 26-17 overall and 17-4 in SWAC play, scored in each of the five innings played, including a six-run first that immediately put the contest out of reach.
Samantha Smith went the distance in the circle, allowing just one earned run to earn her ninth win of the season.
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Brown was the offensive centerpiece of a lineup that produced extra-base hits from top to bottom. The senior shortstop homered and knocked in five runs without making an out, finishing with a 3.000 slugging percentage and a 1.000 on-base percentage on the afternoon. Her season numbers — a .373 average, eight home runs and 42 RBI — reflect one of the most productive hitters in the conference.
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Battle was equally relentless from the two hole, going 4-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. The sophomore infielder reached safely every time she came to the plate and never gave Mississippi Valley pitching a moment's rest, setting the table repeatedly for the heart of the FAMU order.
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Jamison Townsend delivered one of the biggest hits of the afternoon, a two-RBI triple that highlighted the Rattlers' early offensive outburst. Townsend crossed the plate three times and finished 1-for-3.
Delacia DeLeslin also contributed a triple and an RBI in her one plate appearance, making the most of her opportunity off the bench. Smith, who handled pitching duties all five innings, also contributed at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
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On the mound, Smith was sharp and efficient. The graduate pitcher worked around eight hits and struck out three, allowing Mississippi Valley's lone run in the fifth inning on a single by Kelsey Kaluna-Thomas. Smith scattered contact effectively, induced 11 ground-ball outs and kept the Delta Devils off balance all afternoon. She now stands 9-6 on the season with a 3.93 ERA.
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The Rattlers' defense was equally stout, committing no errors behind Smith across five innings of play.
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Mississippi Valley starter Ashtyn Clark absorbed the loss, giving up 16 runs — 13 earned — on 17 hits without recording a strikeout in five innings. The Delta Devils fell to 1-18 on the year.
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With the win, Florida A&M extended one of the conference's most dominant stretches of conference play, pushing its SWAC record to 17-4 and positioning itself firmly among the top contenders heading into the final weeks of the regular season.
KEY STATS
Batting — Florida A&M
Amari Brown — 3-3, HR, 5 RBI, 3 R
Braxtyn Battle — 4-4, RBI, 3 R (4 plate appearances, 0 outs)
Jamison Townsend — 1-3, 3B, 2 RBI, 3 R
Samantha Smith — 2-3, 2B, BB, RBI, R
Delacia DeLeslin — 1-1, 3B, RBI (pinch)
Monroe Oglesby — 1-1, RBI, R (pinch)
Eryn Polite — 1-1, 2B, RBI
Pitching — Florida A&M
Samantha Smith (W, 9-6) — 5.0 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (complete game)
