Box Score
GULFPORT, Miss.- Neriah Lee strung together three hits to help lead the Florida A&M Rattlers past the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats 6-5 Thursday.
Samantha Smith started in the circle and picked up the win for Florida A&M. The right-hander went 2.1 shutout innings while giving up two hits.
Lee's three-hit day led the Rattlers offensively. Junior Amari Brown compiled a noteworthy effort as well, going 1-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs. Freshman Jamison Townsend also chipped in for Florida A&M, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding an RBI.
The Rattlers got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the bottom the first inning with the game still scoreless. Florida A&M got an RBI single from Townsend, scoring freshman Ciara Maple from third base.
With the game tied at 1-1, Bethune-Cookman broke the deadlock with four runs off Florida A&M starting pitcher Zoryana Hughes. After Thais Uyema walked and eventually scored on Kendall Macauley's bases-loaded walk, the floodgates opened for the Wildcats. Third baseman Aysiah Gonzalez drew another bases-loaded walk – this coming from Rattlers reliever Samantha Smith, to force in a run and make it 3-1 in favor of the Wildcats.
B-CU second baseman Jessica Alaan followed with a two-run scoring double to right center, giving the Cats a 5-1 lead heading into the bottom of the frame.
The Florida A&M offense exploded for five runs, highlighted by a three-run triple off the bat of Brown, which brought the Rattlers lead to 6-5. The score remained 6-5 for the rest of the game, as Florida A&M held on for the win.
GAME NOTES
» Lee had three base hits in the game for Florida A&M.
» Florida A&M's highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed five runs across.
» The Rattlers out-hit the Wildcats at a 9-4 clip.
» Florida A&M went 4-for-10 (.400) with runners in scoring position.
» Florida A&M pitchers faced 34 Bethune-Cookman hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out two.
» Brown led the Rattlers at the plate, going 1 for 3 with a triple and three RBIs.
» Bethune-Cookman was led offensively by junior Emma Bradley-Tse, who went 3 for 4 with an RBI.
» Senior Alyssa Lopez led the Wildcats pitching staff, throwing 4.1 innings of four-run ball.
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The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
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