TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | Tristan Curless and
Brycen Hammonds accounted for five hits and six RBI as the Alabama A&M University baseball team jumped out to a big lead through four innings and held off a late charge to take the final game of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series over Florida A&M, 9-5, on Sunday afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After two scoreless innings, Alabama A&M struck for three runs on two hits to grab a 3-0 lead in the top of the third.
Chevalier Dorris and
Dre Amaral opened the frame with back-to-back walks.
Brycen Hammonds followed with a double to right center, scoring Dorris and Amaral. Hammonds came across on a Tristian Curless single up the middle.
The Bulldogs (8-30 overall, 5-14 SWAC) exploded for four runs in the top half of the fourth.
Alex Diaz began the inning with a single through the right side and moved to second when
Jared Tribett was hit by a pitch. Dorris advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt. Amaral singled as Diaz and Tribett scored. Hammonds continued his hot streak at the plate with a double to right center as Amaral scored. After a pitching change, Curless singled to right as Hammonds scored as Alabama A&M extended the lead to 7-0.
Florida A&M (20-19, 16-3) responded with two runs in the fourth, cutting the deficit to 7-2.
AAMU picked up one run in the sixth but FAMU answered with two runs in the bottom half, trimming the margin to 8-4.
The Rattlers continued to close the gap, plating one run in the eighth as the Bulldogs took an 8-5 lead into the ninth.
Alabama A&M got an insurance run in the top of the ninth as
Jesus Riera, who reached on a lead-off walk, scored on a
Mekhi Lloyd single as the Bulldogs pushed the advantage to 9-5.
GAME NOTES
- Alabama A&M finished with nine runs on 11 hits, with one error and stranded eight on base
- Tristan Curless went 3-for-4, with one walk, one double and three RBI
- Brycen Hammonds went 2-for-4, with a pair of doubles, one walk, three RBI and three runs scored
- Dre Amaral was 2-for-3, with two walks, two runs scored and one RBI
- Gabe Nicholson (2-1) pitcked up the win, giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits, with three strikeouts and two walks in 5.2 innings
- Dustin Hernandez and Tristian Curless (second save) pitched in relief
- Florida A&M finished with five runs on 13 hits, committed one error and left 13 on base
- True Fontenot went 4-for-4, with two RBI and two runs scored
- Janmikell Bastardo and Jordan Brown each collected a pair of hits
- Jacob Granger (3-2) took the loss, giving up seven runs (six earned) on five hits, with five walks and a pair of strikeouts in 3.1 innings
- Cody Williams pitched 5.2 innings in relief
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M returns to action for a mid-week game at Bulldog Field on Tuesday against Tuskegee. First pitch against the Golden Tigers is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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