TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M erupted for 11 runs across a decisive two-inning stretch to pull away from Mississippi Valley State 14-8 in SWAC baseball action Saturday at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
The Rattlers (20-17, 15-3 SWAC) trailed 5-2 entering the bottom of the fourth before a five-run frame flipped the game on its head. FAMU then put it out of reach with a six-run sixth inning, taking full advantage of the Delta Devils' beleaguered bullpen while playing errorless defense in the field.

William Brown set the tone from the leadoff spot, going 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI, a stolen base and four runs scored. Brown reached base in all six plate appearances, adding a walk and a hit-by-pitch to his ledger. Jackson McKenzie was equally dominant in the middle of the order, finishing 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three RBI, then transitioning to the mound for two scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts.

Mississippi Valley (11-25, 7-11) struck first with a two-run opening frame, highlighted by a Cody Leming RBI triple. The Delta Devils tacked on three more in the third to build a 5-2 lead, chasing FAMU starter Jesus Campa after 2.2 innings.

That's when Clark Lincoln took over and changed the complexion of the game. The right-hander delivered 3.1 innings of shutout relief, scattering two hits and striking out three to earn the win. Lincoln's effort bought time for the Rattler offense to find its rhythm.

FAMU struck for five runs in the fourth after Ty Burns replaced Logan Darnell on the mound for the Delta Devils. Burns walked three batters in the frame and surrendered a bases-clearing double to McKenzie and an RBI single to Matthew Perez before being lifted after recording just two outs. Alex Monile tacked on another RBI single to push the lead to 7-5.

The Rattlers blew it open in the sixth with six runs on just one hit — Josue Figueroa's two-run double — as walks, hit batters, wild pitches and a sacrifice fly by Jay Campbell did the damage. Mississippi Valley burned through three pitchers in the inning.

Figueroa finished 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI, a walk and a hit-by-pitch from the eight-hole, while Perez went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. Caden Kresak reached base three times via walks and drove in a run.

FAMU's bullpen combined for 6.1 scoreless innings out of Lincoln, McKenzie and closer Cody Williams, who worked a clean ninth despite allowing a run on a balk and a sacrifice fly.
The Rattlers have now won 15 of their last 18 conference games and sit atop the SWAC standings at 15-3 in league play.

KEY STATS
William Brown — 3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 4 R, BB, HBP, SB
Jackson McKenzie — 3-for-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI, R; 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 K (pitching)
Josue Figueroa — 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, HBP
Matthew Perez — 2-for-3, RBI, 2 R, BB
Clark Lincoln (W, 1-1) — 3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Team pitching (relief) — 6.1 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 5 K
FAMU fielding — 0 errors (27 putouts, 7 assists)