Photo Courtesy: Famu athletics
In a test of resilience, the Florida A&M University baseball team demonstrated unwavering determination as they squared off against Troy University on Tuesday. Although facing formidable opposition, the Rattlers showcased their grit and commitment throughout the game, refusing to falter in the face of adversity. Despite the final score reflecting a 13-2 loss, the true essence of the matchup lay in the team’s perseverance and relentless spirit on the diamond.
Players Raylan Wagner and Carson Kelly came out and hit the ground running. Unfortunately, FAMU is taking losses, altogether allowing 0 hits and striking out twice. “I was struggling to find the strike zone early and simply wasn’t competitive to start the game, which set the tone for a rough night for our pitching staff.” Says Wagner, pitcher for The Rattlers and senior business administration scholar. “This translated into giving up a lot of free bases and runs, which you can’t afford to do against a quality lineup like Troy.”
Janmikell Bastardo, a graduate student from Fort Myers, FL, played a great offensive role. Scoring once and receiving two hits for the Rattlers. “Our team’s biggest focus against Troy was trying to minimize their mistakes and capitalize on theirs.” Said Bastardo, “The result didn’t go the way we would’ve liked, but it was still beneficial to see what we need to work on going forward into the season.”
The first inning started with a low score from the Rattlers, going 2-0. Ben Kim, a redshirt sophomore from Tampa, FL, scored the first run. By the third inning, the score had risen from 9-1 to benefit the Troy Trojans. Bastardo came to score the second point for the Rattlers, bringing them up to two points. “We went into this game with the expectation of executing pitches, making the plays we’re expected to make, and having quality at-bats.” Says Raylan, “That’s usually our mindset going into every game, and we’re willing to live with the result as long as we accomplish those things.”
Troy scored four runs before the final tally of 13-2. The team will now prep for their upcoming game against Grambling State University. This Friday, in Vero Beach, FL.
“If we’re able to come together from a pitching/defense standpoint, then we should be able to come out on top against Grambling.” Janmikell states, “Hitting will always be there, but I think if we really emphasize those points, we’ll have a very successful season. It’s early in the season, so we still have time to build our foundation and improve what we have here.”