Rattlers Claim Two Games in Aggies Face-Off

Florida A&M’s Rattlers baseball team won two-out-of-three games against North Carolina A&T Aggies at Moore-Kittles field over the weekend.

Rattlers reversed the first game for a come-from-behind victory, launched by left fielder Tobi Adeyemi’s hitting. The team had costly errors, which proved to be crucial and prevented them from sweeping the Aggies, in the second game 6-2. The third game of the series the Rattlers proved to have the advantage, as they jumped out early and never looked back as they won blew out the Aggies 11-1.

“This was a confidence booster,” Adeyemi said. “The way we handled them was great. They were slated to be the second best team in the conference, so to beat them was great. We are not the same team that lost to Bethune last week, we’re a new team.”

Adeyemi added an extra message that serves notice to all other MEAC competition.

“The way we handled them on the final game was good. We are sending a message to the conference that were here and were going to compete,” Adeyemi said.

Pitching was a huge factor in the final game on Sunday as David Duncan struck out 11 batters as he pitched a complete game. He said the confidence gained from this game has him excited for the rest of the season.

“I’m looking forward to conference play. The guys are coming together well, and are playing good defense and pitching well,” Duncan said. “We aren’t doing anything different, we are just busting our butts in practice. Baseball is all about reps and practicing right.”

As the MEAC conference play starts, the Rattler’s 2-4 record is something they look to change immediately.

“We’re not good enough to look past any one opponent, we’re not that good yet,” head coach Brett Richardson said. “Each and every time we come out, we get an opportunity to play. We want to be better that day than we were than the next day. Our goal is to be able to string along four good days of solid baseball.”

Richardson also said that weather plays a big role in the revival of the team.

“We started off slow as far as our offense, but since the weather is warming up the guys are getting more comfortable and the play has started to pick up.”

The next Rattlers game will be on the road against Alabama State on Tuesday.