DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – An eighth-inning homer was the difference as Florida A&M took game one of the weekend rivalry series, 7-5, Friday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
 
How It Happened 
 
Florida A&M (13-13, 7-0 SWAC) opened the scoring, working a bases loaded-walk in the first to take the early 1-0 lead
 
Bethune-Cookman (14-12, 5-2 SWAC) knotted the game in the bottom of the inning on a Boris Peña RBI single that scored Hylan Hall.

FAMU responded with a pair of runs in the second on three hits.

A third-inning rally saw the Wildcats re-take the lead at 4-3 after Hall scored Luis Tuero on a groundout following his leadoff double. Garret Chun came around to score on a Peña single, and Robert Moya crossed home plate courtesy of a Rattler throwing error.

The Rattlers tied things up in the fifth after a single, advance on a B-CU error, and a passed ball.

FAMU finally broke the tie in the eight on a two-run homer to dead center field that tilted the scales to 6-4. They added one more in the night to make it 7-4.

Colton Olasin, making his return to the lineup, doubled to open the night and came around to score on a Hall single, but that would do it for B-CU as they feel, 7-5 in the series opener.

Nolan Santos made the start. He allowed four runs – three earned – on eight hits with two walks and ten strikeouts.

Dale Michaud took the loss, he allowed three earned runs on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Zach Morea took the win for the Rattlers after coming on in relief of starter Hunter Viets. He pitched 3.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits with a walks and two strikeouts.

Grant Harrison recorded the final out for FAMU, earning the save.
 

Notes

• Friday marked Santos' fifth double-digit strikeout effort of the season in seven appearances.
• Hall and Peña each enjoyed multi-RBI games.
• B-CU left eight men on base to FAMU's 6.

 
Up Next

Game two is set for a 6 p.m. first pitch Saturday.  
 

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