SANFORD, Fla. – A late Bethune-Cookman rally in the ninth inning fell just short Sunday afternoon as the Wildcats dropped a 6-3 decision to Florida A&M in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contest at Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium. In the loss, BCU dropped the series to the Rattlers as well after the two teams split a doubleheader on Saturday.
 
Bethune-Cookman (14-22, 8-7 MEAC) had the bases loaded with two outs in the home-half of the ninth inning when senior second baseman Jameel Edney drove a pitch deep to left field that was caught at the wall by FAMU's Ty Russ to haul in the series-clinching victory for the visiting Rattlers.
 
Florida A&M (16-22, 9-5 MEAC) scored three runs across the first two innings to jump out to an early lead on BCU starting pitcher Tyler Krull.
 
The Rattlers would add two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to hold a 6-0 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning.
 
In the ninth, BCU finally got the offense going against FAMU relief pitcher Dylan Carlson.
 
After Giovany Lorenzo singled to start the inning, a two-out rally pursued with a Kyle Corbin single through the right side. After Nate Sterijevski was hit by a pitch to load the bases, junior centerfielder Zach Spivey drove a pitch right back up the middle to score two for the Maroon and Gold.
 
Jordan Stacy was hit by a pitch in the next at-bat to load the bases once again.
 
Senior designated hitter Michael Deeb was walked to score Sterijevski and bring BCU to within 6-3, before Edney's deep drive with the wind blowing out to left was snagged at the wall by Russ.
 
Dallas Oliver (3-5) earned the win for the Rattlers as he worked 7.2 innings on the bump, spreading out just five hits and striking out two batters against five walks allowed. The loss was accepted by Krull (1-3) as he went four innings, giving up five runs on seven hits, two walks and registering three strikeouts.
 
BCU relievers Joseph Calamita, Branden Frank and Isaak Gutierrez all worked scoreless frames out of the bullpen the final 3.2 innings of the game.
 
The rubber game of the series will take place Sunday, April 15, at 11 a.m. The game will be played back at Sanford Memorial Stadium in Sanford, Florida.
 
Bethune-Cookman is back in action Tuesday, April 17, traveling to Florida Atlantic for a contest against the Owls scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
 
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