Box Score BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - For the second straight contest, a late, four-run inning by Florida A&M was the difference as TSU dropped its SWAC Tournament opener 8-6 on Thursday at Rickwood Field.
TSU struck fist to open the game as Anthony Ruiz drove in Christopher Chavez for the 1-0 lead after the top of the first. However, the lead was brief as FAME led the bottom half off with two singles and scored on a sac fly. The Rattlers moved ahead 2-1 on a single two batters later.
TSU had two runners on in the third but flew out to end the inning while FAMU countered with a solo homer in the third to move ahead 3-1. With two outs in the fifth, a TSU fielding error paved the way for another Rrattler run as they extended the lead to 4-1. In the sixth, TSU had two runners on once again but the inning came to a tough end as Evan Joubert's potential RBI was snatched away in the air at third.
After several innings of struggle, TSU broke through in the seventh as Elijah Rodriguez opened the inning with a double off the FAMU reliever. Zac Pace's bunt was just in front of the pitcher for the second base runner of the inning. Chavez was called out on a strikeout but Nate Lopez made up for it with a RBI single to cut the deficit to 4-2. Anthony Ruiz hit a single on the following at-bat and the Tigers went from a two-run deficit to a 4-4 tie in the matter of instant as FAMU was flagged for interference along with a throwing error. One batter later, the Tigers blew the gates open as Byron Robinson hit a two-run shot over the right center field fence to lead 6-4.
The momentum was short-lived unfortunately as FAMU countered with a four-run bottom frame to lead 8-6. TSU would only have one baserunner from that point as FAMU held on for the win.
Ruiz finished 3-for-4 with an RBI while Robinson went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Justin Mayes struck out 11 on the mound.
TSU is back in action at 9 a.m. on Thursday.
