TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M softball split a home SWAC doubleheader with Jackson State on Saturday, falling 3-2 in the opener before rallying to win the nightcap 11-3 in five innings via the run rule. The split moved FAMU to 28-19 overall and 19-5 in conference play. Junior outfielder Jordan Douglas was the hero of the second game, belting two home runs and driving in six, while senior Amari Brown added a three-run triple as the Rattlers erupted for 14 hits to close out the day on a high note.

GAME 1 — Jackson State 3, Florida A&M 2

Graduate senior Samantha Smith went the distance but suffered a hard-luck loss as Florida A&M fell 3-2 to Jackson State in the opener, dropping to 9-7 on the season in the circle. Smith scattered seven hits across seven innings and limited the Tigers to three runs despite facing a speed-heavy lineup that swiped four bases on the afternoon.

Jackson State did all of its damage in the first inning. Ka'Liyah Gipson reached with a single and stole second before Jace Jackson drove her home with a two-run triple to center field. Meah Almaraz reached on a fielder's choice to score Jackson, then pinch runner Karli Cunningan stole second and third. Gabrielle Willis added a sacrifice fly to plate Cunningan and make it 3-0 before Smith retired the next batter to end the inning.

Smith then locked in. She retired the side in order in the third, held the Tigers to a single and a walk over the next three innings, and stranded a pair in the seventh. Her final line — seven innings, seven hits, no walks after the first, three strikeouts — was the kind of outing that wins most games.

FAMU's comeback bid came alive in the fourth. Keeleigh Spooner drew a walk and senior Sakiya Merriex ran for her. Jordan Douglas followed with a double to first base, advancing Merriex to third. Smith then delivered the big blow, lacing a two-run double to shortstop that plated both Douglas and Merriex to make it a 3-2 ballgame.

Madison Jenkins ran for Smith, advanced to third on a wild pitch, but was stranded when Makayla Register grounded out and Aniya Canty struck out to end the inning.

The Rattlers put two more runners on in the seventh — Amya Ramos singled as a pinch hitter, Amari Brown singled with two out and Neriah Lee on third — but Spooner's fly ball to center ended the threat. Brooklyn Morris earned the complete-game win for Jackson State, working around seven FAMU hits and three walks while striking out three.

Batting
Samantha Smith — 2-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI, BB
Jordan Douglas — 1-for-3, 2B
Aniya Canty — 1-for-3
Makayla Register — 1-for-3
Amari Brown — 1-for-4
Amya Ramos — 1-for-1 (PH)

Pitching
Samantha Smith (L, 9-7) — 7.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 109 pitches
 
GAME 2 — Florida A&M 11, Jackson State 3 (5 innings)

Florida A&M answered the opener with a dominant run-rule victory in five innings, putting up 11 runs on 14 hits and sending the home crowd home with a split. The Rattlers scored in four of their five at-bats and did the bulk of their damage in a massive first inning — plating six runs — and never looked back. Freshman pitcher Sariah Espada earned the win, holding Jackson State to four hits and three runs while working all five innings.

The tone was set immediately. Neriah Lee drew a leadoff walk, Braxtyn Battle bunted for a single, and Jamison Townsend walked to load the bases. Senior Amari Brown then crushed a three-run triple to left field, clearing the bags and knotting the score at 3-3 after Jackson State had scored three in the top half. Keeleigh Spooner was hit by a pitch, and pinch runner Sakiya Merriex came in to run. Jordan Douglas followed with a towering three-run home run to center field — her first of the day — to give FAMU a 6-3 lead it would never relinquish.

Douglas was not finished. In the second inning, with Brown aboard after a single, she launched a two-run shot to left field to extend the lead to 8-3. The junior outfielder from Calera, Ala., finished 3-for-3 with two home runs and six RBI — the kind of performance that changes the complexion of a season down the stretch. Brown was equally spectacular, going 3-for-3 with a triple and five RBI to give the two Rattlers a combined 11 RBI.

FAMU added a run in the fourth on a Douglas RBI single that plated Townsend, and closed out the run rule in the fifth. A. Canty drew a walk, Lee laid down a bunt single, and pinch hitter Amya Ramos singled to center to load the bases. Townsend singled to push two across before Brown delivered yet again, singling to center for two more RBI and the 11-3 final.
Espada, who worked out of several jams created by five walks, was sharp when it mattered most, inducing ground balls and flying outs at key moments.

Jackson State starter Jayden Rutledge was chased without recording an out after giving up six runs, including a hit batter and a Douglas home run before getting a single out. Addison Jennings absorbed most of the damage in four innings of relief.

Batting
Jordan Douglas — 3-for-3, 2 HR, RBI single, 6 RBI, 2 R
Amari Brown — 3-for-3, 3B, RBI single, 5 RBI, 2 R
Neriah Lee — 2-for-3, 2 R, BB
Jamison Townsend — 2-for-3, 1 R, BB
Braxtyn Battle — 1-for-3, bunt single, 1 R
Keeleigh Spooner — 1-for-2, HBP
Makayla Register — 1-for-3
Amya Ramos — 1-for-1, 1B (PH)
Sakiya Merriex — 1 R (PR)

Pitching
Sariah Espada (W, 3-3) — 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 2 SO, 80 pitches