TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Alabama A&M (7-26, 4-14 SWAC) could not withstand an offensive barrage and dropped an 18-8 decision against Florida A&M (18-23, 7-10 SWAC) in an NCAA Division I baseball game on Sunday, April 24.
 
The Bulldogs would waste no time getting on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning as freshman left fielder Janmikell Bastardo (Fort Myers, Fla.) singled through the left side and brought home graduate second baseman Tim Dixon (Debary, Fla.) before junior third baseman Tommy Easley (Acworth, Ga.) singled through the right side and sophomore Trevor Berkemeyer (North Las Vegas, Nev.) scored.The offensive barrage would continue as Ford grounded out to first base and allowed Bastardo to score before graduate center fielder Nemo Wright (PG County, Md.) singled to right center and brought home Easley for a 4-0 lead.

FAMU would respond in the bottom of the first inning as LJ Bryant singled to right field and allowed Jalen Niles to score and the cut the gap by three. The Bulldogs would answer in the top of the second inning with Easley doubling down to left field to bring home both Bastardo and Berkemeyer to increase their advantage to 6-1.
 
 The Rattlers would then respond in the bottom of inning and flip the switch by delivering four runs off four hits including Bryant signaling to left side a two-RBI that allowed Grant Rowell and Jared Weber to score and cut the deficit to 6-5.
 
They would then capitalize in the bottom of the third inning by unleashing five runs off six hits that consisted of Evan Badger firstly homering to left field and Adam Haidermota scored before Weber singled to right center and brought home Niles and Zeddric Burnham. Weber would add the final run of the inning on a wild pitch to push the lead to 10-6.
 
FAMU would continue pushing their lead as Badger hit a home run to left field before capitalizing in the bottom of the fifth inning with Rowell signaling to left field and Weber scored before Haidermota homered to left field and Rowell came home to push the advantage to 14-6.
 
Pitching would rule until the top of the seventh inning as the Bulldogs answered with sophomore catcher Dillon Roop (New Market, Ala.) singled to left field to allow graduate center fielder Damani Thomas (Zellewood, Fla.) to score and cut the gap to 14-7. The Rattlers would respond in the bottom of the inning as Haidermota added a run to lead by eighth.The Bulldogs would respond in the top of the eighth inning as Easley doubled to left field and brought home Bastardo to cut the deficit to 15-8.
 
 In the bottom of the eighth and final inning Florida A&M would unleash a three runs off two hits with a run each from Rowell, Bryant and Robert Robinson walked to allow Will Brown to score the final run of the game and secure the 18-8 victory and the series.
 
Haidermota led FAMU with a 2-of-4 day, three RBIs, a home run and three scored runs while Badger was 3-of-4, with three RBIs, two homeruns and two scored runs. Rowell went 3-of-6 with three RBIs and three scored runs. Weber went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored and Bryant had a 3-for-4 day, three RBIs and a scored run to round out the top performers. Jeremiah McCollum threw four innings, striking out five and allowing two earned runs to move to 1-1.
 
Easley led the Bulldogs with a 3-of-4 day, four RBIs, and a scored run while Bastardo was 3-of-5 with an RBI and three scored runs. and Berkemeyer had a pair of runs scored. Freshman pitcher Jason Marono (Miami, Fla) threw one inning allowing five earned runs and striking out two to fall to 1-2.
 
The Bulldogs are back in action on Tuesday, April 26 as they will face off against Murray State, First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. at the Johnny Reagan Field in Murray, Kentucky.