TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Norfolk State out-hit Florida A&M in both ends of a MEAC doubleheader on Saturday, but could not prevent the big inning by the Rattlers in dropping both games by scores of 12-5 and 6-2 at Moore-Kittles Field.
The losses drop NSU to 9-20 overall, 5-5 in the MEAC, while the Rattlers improve to 12-17, 6-0.
In game one, the Rattlers scored nine runs in the first two innings and never looked back. Miles Watson's three-run double highlighted a five-run first for FAMU, and two runs scored on a J.D. Tease RBI single in the four-run second that pushed the Rattlers' lead to 9-0.
NSU got back in the game in the middle innings. The Spartans struck for five hits and four runs in the fourth.
Phillip Boykin and
Alsander Womack both hit RBI singles, and
Trent Hanchey doubled in two more run.
A rain delay which lasted most of the afternoon interrupted the opener, but
Jacob Council's solo homer in the fifth after play resumed brought NSU within 9-5. It was Council's first homer as a Spartan.
But FAMU put the game away with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Jared Weber doubled in one run and Grant Rowell doubled in two more.
NSU finished with 12 hits in game one, led by a 3-for-4 outing by shortstop
Danny Hosley. That ties Hosley's career high in hits. Womack, Council and
Mason Velasquez all had two hits apiece.
In the nightcap, FAMU again struck early, this time with a three-spot in the second. A single and two walks loaded the bases, and a Spartan error allowed two runs to score. Octavien Moyer capped the rally with an RBI single.
The Spartans got two runs back in the third. Womack and
Ty Hanchey singled to start the frame, and one out later, Council singled in Womack for NSU's first run. Hanchey later scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of
Korey Singh.
The scored stayed that way till the fifth. Tristen Cooper's sacrifice fly started another FAMU uprising. Weber singled in a run and Tucker Rayburn doubled in another to account for the final run.
NSU pitching limited FAMU to just five hits in game two.
James Deloatch (3-2) was charged with the loss despite allowing just three hits and two earned runs (five total) in four innings. He struck out five.
Nolan Manzer made a scoreless appearance in both games for NSU, pitching a total of 2.1 innings Saturday without yielding a run.
Kelyn Fox (3-1) picked up the win for the Rattlers, pitching 6.2 innings and allowing two earned runs.
Velasquez and Hanchey both had two hits in the nightcap for NSU, which finished with eight hits. Velasquez and Hosley led NSU with four hits apiece on the day.
The teams will attempt to play another doubleheader Sunday, weather permitting.
