ATLANTA – A three-run first inning and timely runs late allowed Florida A&M to defeat Bethune-Cookman 9-6 in the title game of the 2023 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament at Russ Chandler Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
 
Trailing 8-3 in the bottom of the eighth, Bethune-Cookman (33-27) used a two-out rally, kicked off by Robert Moya with a two-run home run clear the wall in left to bring the Wildcats to within 8-5. That was followed by a walk drawn from Manny Souffrain, and then a single to shallow right off the bat of Irvin Escobar. Relief pitcher and closer Morea would enter the game for the Rattlers and collect the deep fly ball to end the threat.
 
The two teams traded runs in the ninth inning, as Bethune-Cookman used a Hylan Hall RBI groundout to plate Luis Tuero and produce the 9-6 final score.
 
Florida A&M (29-28) hit the ground running in the top of the first as the Rattlers plated three runs, which included a JanMikell Bastardo RBI single.
 
Bethune-Cookman grabbed a run back in the home-half of the second inning using a Manny Souffrain solo shot to right field, with the first baseman registering his fourth home run of the season to cut into the deficit 3-1.
 
The Rattlers would answer in the top of the next frame with a Jared Weber leadoff home run to make it 4-1.
 
In the bottom of the third, Garret Chun lined an RBI single to center in order to bring around Jeremy Garcia who singled in his at-bat. That halved the Rattlers lead at 4-2. The Cats would claw yet another run back when Robert Moya singled up the middle to plate right fielder Hall from second.
 
Clinging to a 4-3 lead, FAMU tacked on a run in the top of the fourth inning.
 
With runners on first and second, a lengthy review allowed Niles to advance to third on an obstruction call with a pickoff attempt at second base. He would later score off the end of a Hanchey RBI groundout to first. That allowed the Rattlers a 5-3 edge.
 
A two-run home run from Moya cut the lead at 8-5 in the bottom of the eighth.
 
The win was picked up by FAMU starter Hunter Viets as he improved to 7-1 on the season in pitching 7.2 innings, allowing five runs on 12 hits, two walks and five strikeouts. The loss went to BCU starter Nolan Santos who finished the year 7-5 overall.
 
BCU was led offensively by Peña and Garret Chun with three hist each, while Moya had two hits and three RBIs for the day.
 
Named to the SWAC All-Tournament Team from Bethune-Cookman were Colton Olasin, Boris Peña, Hylan Hall and Irvin Escobar.
 
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