The Florida A&M Rattlers hosted Brown University this weekend in a doubleheader game this past Saturday.
The Rattlers got off to a tough start suffering a 9-1 loss in the opening game.
Senior pitcher Thomas Nicoll started out on the mound for the Rattlers pitching five innings, giving up six hits and three earned runs. The rattlers struggled to get runners on base, only tallying six hits throughout the game.
Outfielder Curtis Jordan was a bright spot for FAMU, driving in an RBI in the fifth inning giving the team their only run for the game.
Coach Jamey Shouppe was disappointed in his team's performance.
“You have to do three things to win baseball games: hit, pitch and play defense. We only did one of the three,” said Shouppe.
The Rattlers bounced back in the second matchup defeating Brown 5-0. Freshman Josh Barr pitched a tremendous game. Striking out five of the 15 batters, he faced only giving up two hits through five innings.
Both teams locked into a defensive battle through the first three innings as neither team was able to register a run.
The Rattlers bats came alive in the fourth inning, going on a offensive tear that ultimately led to a pitching change in the fifth. Outfielder Dallas Oliver started off the offensive onslaught with a stand up double, and Oliver was awarded third base due to Brown’s pitcher Dante Bosnic committing a walk. Oliver then scored on a RBI Single from senior first-baseman Brian Davis, giving the Rattlers a 1-0 lead.
A wild pitch from Bosnic would later allow Davis and junior Willis McDaniel to score. Junior Brett Maxwell then connected on a single to right field that drove in junior Kaycee Reese.
The Rattlers were able to manufacture four runs in just the fourth inning, showing their offensive potential if they can be consistent.
The final run came in the fifth inning courtesy of a RBI single from senior John Capra that drove in Jordan Curtis who lead off the inning with a single.
“I was really proud of Barr as a freshman. He gave us an opportunity and put us in position to win the game” said Coach Shouppe.
Next up, the Rattlers welcome Florida Gulf Coast to the campus for a two-game series starting Tuesday.