Marshall vs FAMU

Dallas Oliver drives in two runs with a single hit down the middle.
Photo credit: Sydne Vigille

 

The Florida A&M University baseball team took on Marshall University at Moore Kittles Field in a three game series last weekend.

In the season opener on Feb. 16, anticipating fans watched the Rattlers take on an unexpected loss of 12 points. Marshall took the lead as catcher Reynaldo Pastrana hit two home runs to the left center. Their second baseman Geordon Blanton added to the score by hitting two home runs and a triple to the right field corner.

Within two innings of play, the scoreboard read 4-0. Fortunately, by the third inning the Rattlers finally responded.

Infielder Kaycee Reese hit a double while Bret Maxwell and Jacky Miles comes home on the hit. However, by the fourth inning the Thundering Herd scored five more runs, giving them a total of nine runs.

Marshall went on to win the game, defeating FAMU by a staggering 17 points with the Rattlers only achieving five.

The game was a humbling experience according to Rattlers head coach, Jamey Shouppe.  

“The season opener was very disappointing,” said Shouppe. “Our theme for the year is more. We didn't come ready to play, we kind of took the game for granted. With baseball if you take the game for granted bad things are going to happen. We got humbled.”

The Rattlers came back hard in the following game that Saturday. Starting pitcher, Josh Wilson started the game with scoreless innings in succession.

Opponent Brad O'Connor was handed his first loss of the season for Marshall. He allowed four hits, six runs (six earned) and struck out six batters. Marshall ended the game with a total of eight hits and ten walks. FAMU beat Marshall by seven points leaving the scoreboard at 8-1.

The Rattlers are extremely competitive, which allowed them to make the comeback win according to Offensive MVP, Dallas Oliver.

“Our practices are intense they are real competitive every day it is a competition,” said Oliver.

The Rattlers came back strong leaving the series at  1-1 coming into Sunday’s game.

Marshall was ready for the revenge game though, stamping the Rattlers 9-0. The Rattlers ended the three game series on Sunday with six errors, three hits, and zero home runs. The Thunderbirds made nine home runs, 11 hits and only committed one error.

The Rattlers outfielder, Curtis Jones, claims the game was not very fun, and his teammates were not ready to play on Sunday, saying that, “ We must do better.”

The Rattlers will meet on Moore Kittles field on this upcoming Friday against Alcorn State at 4 p.m.