Tigers Drop Three-Game Series To Florida A&M In Contrasting Fashions

Game 1 – Florida A&M 4, Texas Southern 2
Florida A&M jumped out to a 4-0 lead and held serve as they claimed a 4-2 win in the opener on Thursday.

FAMU scored twice in the first as they used a bases-loaded walk and sac fly. TSU had action in the second as Nate Lopez drove in Evan Jiubert for a 2-1 margin. TSU had two runners on following the score, but FAMU starter Caleb Granger recorded a strikeout and a flyout to escape the jam.

It was a pitching duel between Mayes and Granger over the next few innings as FAMU returned to the scoreboard with two runs, which was aided by a wild pitch on a strikeout and a TSU error. The Tigers cut the margin to 4-2 in the seventh on Chris Chavez's RBI single to score Nate Lopez, but that would be the final scoring opportunity as FAMU squeezed out game one.
Chavez finished 3-for-5 with an RBI while Lopez also added two hits. Mayes struck out four in three innings, while Josh Prieto went five innings and logged three strikeouts.

Game 2 – Florida A&M 8, Texas Southern 5
FAMU scored 13 unanswered runs over the final five innings to win game two 13-2

TSU struck first as Derek Gipson and Anthony Ruiz drove in runs for an early 2-0 lead after the top of the fourth. FAMU answered with a run in the bottom frame and added four more in the fifth to lead 5-2.

TSU loaded the baes with two outs in the sixth but couldn't capitalize as FAMU added another run in the bottom half to lead 6-2. FAMU crossed home eight runs between the sixth and eighth innings to trigger the run rule.

Miguel Morales batted 3-for-4 while Nate Lopez also had multiple hits. Kewan Braziel fell to 1-1 on the season after pitching 1.2 innings of relief.

Game 3 – Florida A&M 9, Texas Southern 8
TSU played its longest outing of the year as they dropped a 9-8 heartbreaker, which played out over 16 innings in the regular season finale.
 
Florida A&M baseball pulled off a dramatic 9–8 victory over Texas Southern in Game 3 of their series, winning a marathon contest that lasted 16 innings on Saturday.
Texas Southern had a pair of four-run innings to lead 8-5 heading into the final inning. FAMU's first four batters reached base to open the ninth as they trailed 8-7. TSU intentionally loaded the bases with one out, but the rattlers hit a sac fly to tie it at 8-all before the final out.
 
From there, both bullpens locked in as the game stretched deep into extra innings. Neither team scored again until the 16th, as TSU nearly fought back from another bases-loaded situation but a wild pitch paved the way for the winning run to score.
Shaun Williams batted 3-for-7 with five RBI to lead TSU. TSU's pitching staff totaled 10 strikeouts as Zac Laviage led the way with four.
 
TSU will await its SWAC Tournament opponent following the series.