The Rattlerettes took on the Lady Seminoles of FSU on a very cold night Tuesday and fell 5-0.
The Seminoles made a big play in the top of the second inning when Elisa Vasquez ran home after Jerika Mobley missed a line drive between second and third base.
The Rattlerettes then executed a double play to end out the top of the second inning, but they were not able to answer in the bottom of that inning.
In top of the third inning, Eria Williams caught a fly ball allowing Jessica van der Linden to steal third. Continuing to put on the defensive pressure, the Rattlers ended the third inning as the Lady Seminoles Brandi Stuart was tagged out after she tried to steal second. The score remained 1-0.
The crowd began to get excited as the game approached the top of the fourth inning.
“The game was very exciting, the fans are making a lot of noise,” said fan Jonathan Smith, a 21- year old Business Student from Alabama. ” They are making some mistakes, but overall they are really looking good.”
In the fifth inning, the game got even more exciting. Natasha Jacob of FSU advanced to first after Elisa Scott missed a line drive. Jacob went on to score making the score 2-0.
FAMU pitcher, Danielle Brown put FSU in position to score as the bases were loaded. After walking Stuart, Tatiana George walked in for the score making it 3-0.
Williams got under a fly ball and Natalie Mathews caught a drive down the first base line to end the top of the fifth inning with FSU still up. The Lady Rattlers went hitless in the bottom of the fifth leaving the score at 3-0.
In the sixth inning the FSU’s Shundra Colzie hit a line drive single to center field. Brown, FAMU’s pitcher struck out Jacob but it was bittersweet as the bases were later loaded and FSU scored their fourth run.
The Rattlerettes tried to rally back but Seminoles caught a ball hit into outfield, and then executed an out on close call at first.
In the top of the seventh, Lady Seminole Carly Brieske ran in to score giving the Seminoles a 5-0 lead. The Rattlerettes tried to come alive in the bottom of the seventh, but Ruby Nugent was thrown out on another close call at first.
“We had a couple of bad breaks, said coach Donaldson. “We were just one swing away.”
Unfortunately, the Lady Rattlers could not rally back from the Seminoles and the game ended as the Rattlers fell to the ‘Noles.
“We did better than we thought,” said co-caption Matthews. “But keeping that in mind, there is always room to improve.” The Lady Rattlers next game is set for Saturday, Feb. 23. They will be playing a double header against Bethune Cookman College.