PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas — Florida A&M's offense ignited for seven runs in the sixth inning to break open a back-and-forth contest, and the Rattlers held on for a 17-14 victory over Prairie View A&M Thursday afternoon at Tankersley Field in a high-scoring SWAC battle that featured six combined home runs and 33 total hits.

Josue Figueroa delivered the decisive blow, connecting for a grand slam in the fourth inning to hand FAMU a lead it would not relinquish, while Justen Crews paced the offensive onslaught with four hits and three of the team's eight multi-hit contributors in a 19-hit performance.

The Rattlers trailed 6-5 through three innings before seizing control with a four-run fourth, a one-run fifth, and a seven-run sixth-inning blitz that put the game away. FAMU sent eight men to the plate in the sixth inning alone, stringing together six consecutive hits at one point against Prairie View starter Beau Beaty before the Panthers turned to the bullpen.

The sixth opened quietly — Ethan Miller singled, Josue Figueroa flied out, and William Brown singled to put runners on first and second with two outs. From there, the Rattlers were relentless. Justen Crews laced a bunt single to load the bases, Jay Campbell singled home a run, Jackson McKenzie followed with an RBI single, and Matthew Perez delivered another base hit to plate two more. Alex Monile then capped the frame with a two-run triple to center, and Ethan Miller added a run-scoring single off incoming reliever Isaac Herrera — all before FAMU finally made the third out.

Figueroa's grand slam in the fourth inning was the emotional turning point of the game. With the Rattlers trailing 6-5 and the bases loaded after McKenzie was hit by pitch, Perez singled, Monile moved runners into scoring position, and Miller drew a walk to load the bases before Figueroa launched a three-run deficit into a 9-6 lead on a bomb off Beaty. The first baseman finished 1-for-5 with four RBI for the afternoon.

McKenzie, who transitioned from designated hitter to pitcher in the eighth inning, went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and four runs scored, adding two innings of relief work after the Rattlers' pitching staff needed support. Alex Monile contributed two hits and a team-high three RBI, including a two-run triple in the pivotal sixth. Matthew Perez added three hits and two RBI from the six-hole, and Ethan Miller went 2-for-4 with two RBI including a sacrifice fly.

Caleb Granger started on the mound and earned the win, going 6.2 innings and allowing 14 earned runs on 10 hits — a line that reflected a hard-fought afternoon rather than a dominant outing. Granger benefited from six FAMU double plays turned behind him, with the FAMU infield converting on multiple key opportunities. McKenzie recorded the save, his third of the season, closing out the final two innings.

Prairie View's Corie Lockette was a bright spot for the Panthers, going 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI. Ryland Duson went 4-for-5 with a double and three runs scored, and the Panthers' bullpen struggled in the late innings, issuing four walks in the ninth while the Rattlers added three insurance runs.

KEY STATS
Josue Figueroa — 1-for-5, grand slam (4th inning), 4 RBI, 1 R
Justen Crews — 4-for-6, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 R; led the team in hits
Jackson McKenzie — 2-for-3, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP; also earned the save (3) pitching 2.0 IP, 3 SO in relief
Alex Monile — 2-for-5, 1 3B, 3 RBI, 1 R
Matthew Perez — 3-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 SF
Ethan Miller — 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 R, 1 SF, 1 BB
Jay Campbell — 2-for-5, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 3 R, 1 BB
William Brown — 3-for-5, 2 R, 1 HBP
Caleb Granger (W, 5-2) — 6.2 IP, 10 H, 14 R/10 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO; 6 double plays turned behind him
Team Offense — 19 H, 17 R, 15 RBI, 6 BB, 2 3B, 2 2B, 1 HR