TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Apr. 18) – The FAMU Baseball team used a four-run six-inning to overtake Savannah State on their way to a 7-5 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Southern Division road victory at Tiger Field Thursday evening.
FAMU (16-23, 8-8) trailed 2-0 after two innings as the Tigers plated single runs in the first and second innings, but they seized control of the game in the top of sixth with that four-run rally.
Tucker Rayburn's RBI ground out to second scored Seyjuan Lawrence for a 2-1 count, then Jared Weber's RBI single scored Octavien Moyer to tie the game, 2-2.
Brett Maxwell's fielder's choice grounder scored Willis McDaniel and Weber to put the Rattlers ahead, 4-2.
Savannah State scored a run on two hits in the bottom of the sixth for a 4-3 count, but the Rattlers scored two runs in the top of the eighth thanks to Tiger fielding error.
Brad Hession's grounder to second was booted by the SSU second baseman, allowing Kaycee Reese (walk) and Robert Robinson (single) to score for a 6-3 lead.
Savannah State did score a run in the bottom of the eighth to make the score 6-4, but the Rattlers scored an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Jared Weber drew a lead off walk, then later scored from third on Robert Robinson's bases loaded grounder to third for a 7-4 count.
The Tigers did manage a run in the bottom of the ninth, but closer Jeremiah McCollum settled down after giving up three hits and a walk, to strike out the last two SSU hitters for his ninth (9th) save of the year.
FAMU starter Kyle Coleman (2-4) got the victory, striking out seven, while allowing three runs on seven scattered hits over five and two-thirds innings.
The Rattlers finished the game with 11 hits led by Robert Robinson's three hits, followed by Octavien Moyer and Willie McDaniel with two hits each. FAMU got two RBI from Brett Maxwell, while Jared Weber, Tucker Rayburn and Robinson each drove in a run.
WHAT'S ON DECK: The Rattlers will tangle with Savannah State in Game Two Friday at 2:00 p.m., weather permitting.
