Florida A&M’s Lady Rattlers softball team won the weekend series 2-1 at the Lady Rattler Complex against Norfolk State.
FAMU victory dominated game one of Saturday’s double-header after an early RBI from third baseman Erika Garcia and timely base running by pinch-runner Ashanti Shepherd.
“We came out swinging a little bit under the ball lifting it too much we were telling them to get more lift on the ball and make Norfolk’s defense play, said assistant coach Lori Goodart. “We have a lot of speed so when we put the ball on the ground we feel like we are going to out hustle our opponents.”
Norfolk State was only able to score one run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly ball where the Norfolk State center fielder Danielle Wright would score.
“We really worked as a team and were focused and trying to fix every at bat in the box,” Garcia said. “Since the game was so slow the plan was to have a better pitch selection and after we calmed down we just adjusted.”
In game two, FAMU showed more composure, as they combined for nine hits to the Spartans’ four. The team used a three run spurt to go up 3-0. The runs came on back-to-back-to-back hits.
The team invoked the eight-run mercy rule in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Game three got away from the team. NSU edged the Rattlers in the hitting department nine to eight. The game would end with a 6-2 final score.
The team will be back in action on Wednesday as they host Jacksonville University at home at 6 p.m.