Rattler pitching earns wins, respect

The Florida A&M University softball team got a shutout pitching performance from freshman Tiffany Johnson to take a 4-0 victory over Florida State University Monday evening at Lady Rattler field.

FAMU (25-21) drew first blood in the third inning when Rhianna Green reached on a one-out single.

She eventually scored from third on a throwing error by FSU third baseman Michelle Synder for a 1-0 lead.

FAMU pushed ahead 2-0 in the fourth on a solo homer by Alacia Strafford, her third of the season.

The Lady Rattlers scored twice in the fifth, on an Ashley Smith two-out, two-run single, which scored Green and Nakendra Jones.

Johnson (12-3), a leading candidate for MEAC Rookie of the Year, hurled a complete game, five-hit shutout against the Seminoles (27-18).

Rattler senior pitcher Danielle Brown threw 19 strikeouts this past weekend, becoming the all-time strikeout leader in Lady Rattler softball history with 530 career strikeouts. Brown surpassed Tenyse Tasby who held the previous record with 519 strikeouts.

Brown recorded 13 strikeouts in Friday’s doubleheader split against North Carolina A&T.

Saturday, she added six more to her total against South Carolina State, giving her 530.

Lady Rattler shortstop Kelly Gordon earned MEAC softball player of the week honors, the league announced on Monday.

Brown was named Pitcher of the Week, and Johnson earned Rookie of the week honors.

The Lady Rattlers travel to Lexington, S.C. this weekend to compete in the MEAC Roundup tournament.

Danielle Brown was one of three Lady Rattlers to earn conference honors this past week. She is now FAMU’s all-time strikeout leader.

Coutesy of http://TheFAMURattlers.com