TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Alabama A&M (6-25, 3-13 SWAC) dropped a 14-5 decision against Florida A&M  (17-22, 11-5 SWAC) in an NCAA Division I baseball game on Friday, April 22.
 
The Rattlers would register a run in the bottom as of the first inning as Zeddric Burnham scored for a 1-0 lead before the Bulldogs responded in the top of the second inning as junior short stop CJ Mervilus (Brooklyn, N.Y.) singled to center field to bring home junior third baseman Tommy Easley (Acworth, Ga.) before Mervilus singled through the right side to allow graduate center fielder Nemo Wright (PG County, Md.) to flip the switch and take a 2-1 advantage.
 
FAMU would then respond in the bottom of the inning with six runs off four hits including a two RBI hit from Grant Rowell to bring home Jalen Niles and Tyler Dunbar before Jared Weber doubled down the left field line to allow Rowell and Joseph Pierini to score and take the lead 7-2. They would then capitalize in the bottom of the third as both Robert Robinson and Burnham scored to push the lead by seven before Pierini tripled down the right field and brought home Burnham for a 10-2 lead.
 
The Rattlers would add one more run in the bottom of the fourth inning and then pitching would rule until the Bulldogs would finally answer in the top of the sixth inning. Firstly, freshman left fielder Janmikel Bastardo (Fort Myers, Fla.) singled to right center and allowed sophomore first baseman Trevor Berkemeyer (North Las Vegas, Nev.) to score before Bastardo added a run himself on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 11-4.
 
FAMU would then respond in the bottom of the inning as Robinson singled through the left side and Ethan Jenkins scored to lead by eight runs. Neither team would affect the score until the Bulldogs answered in the top of the eighth inning as sophomore catcher Dillon Roop (New Market, Ala.) grounded out to short stop and brought home Easley to close the gap to 12-5.
 
Florida A&M would unleash two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning as Robinson filed out to right field and Will Brown scored before Broedy Poppell singled to right field and Evan Badger came home to close out the 14-5 decision.
 
Rowell led FAMU with a 1-of-6 day, two RBIs and one run scored while Weber went 1-of-2 with three RBIs. Robinson went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and one run scored to round out the top performers. Hunter Viets threw six innings, striking out seven and allowing two earned runs to move to 6-3.
 
Roop led the Bulldogs with a 1-of-4 day and two RBIs, while Bastardo was 1-of-5 with an RBI and one scored run. Junior pitcher Jose Figueroa (Toa Alta, Puerto Rico) threw three innings allowing four earned runs and striking out two to fall to 4-1.
 
The Bulldogs are back in tomorrow, Saturday, April 22 for the second game of the series against Florida A&M. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST at the Moore-Kittles Field.