TANNER, Ala. – Alabama A&M (5-18, 3-6 SWAC) gave up the lead in the eighth inning to fall 4-1 to Florida A&M (12-17, 6-3 SWAC) on Sunday, April 3 in an NCAA Division I baseball game.
 
The Rattlers would waste no time getting on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning as Zeddric Burnham scored for a 1-0 lead. The score would stay that way until the Bulldogs responded in the bottom of the fourth as sophomore first baseman Trevor Berkemeyer (North Las Vegas, Nev.) singled to left center and brought home freshman left fielder Janmikell Bastardo (Fort Myers, Fla.) to score and even the game, 1-1.
 
 Pitching would rule the day and neither team would affect the score until FAMU had a barrage of runs in the top of the eighth inning. Burnham singled to left field to bring home Griffin Long before LJ Bryant reached on a fielding error and Burnham scored. The final run of the inning came from Ty Hanchey reaching on a fielder's choice that allowed Joseph Pierini to score for the three run advantage.
 
From there, neither team would add a run during the ninth and final inning and the Rattlers would close out the 4-1 decision and take the series.
 
Burnham led the Rattlers with a 3-for-4 day and an RBI and two runs scored while Long was 1-of-1 and a run scored. Pierini went 2-for-3 with a run scored to round out the top offensive performers. Keyln Fox started and threw eight innings, allowing one earned run and striking out three to move to 2-2 and Morea pitched one inning and struck out two to take the save.
 
Bastardo led the Bulldogs with a 1-for-4 day, and a run scored while Berkemeyer was 1-of-3 with an RBI. Graduate pitcher Noah Whitted (Beaumont, Texas) threw 7.1 innings, and struck out one to fall to 1-1.      
 
AAMU will be back in action from April 8-10 as they head to Alabama State for a three-game series. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex in Montgomery, Alabama.