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| Junior Jessica Nathan at the FAMU v. Southern Miss matchup |
Friday’s win was the first season-opening win for FAMU (1-0)
since February 11, 2011, when the Rattler Women blanked Savannah State, 9-0.
Using the International Tiebreaker in extra innings, FAMU’s
Tashayla Irvis was placed on second base to start the eighth, then Whitney
Farris beat out a bunt to third base to put runners at the corners. Farris then
stole second to put two runs in scoring position for Nathan, who laced a shot
to left field for a 9-6 lead.
Nathan, a first-team preseason All-MEAC selection, lived up
to advance billing, going 2-for-4, scoring three runs and driving in three with
the home run. Farris led FAMU with three hits and three runs scored,
while Amber Fullwood and Kenya Pereira each had two hits and drove in two runs.
Alexis Day added two hits to the FAMU onslaught, while Toni Anderson had one
hit and a pair of runs driven in.
FAMU took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but the
Eagles (0-1) pushed across single runs in the bottom of the second and third to
tie the game 2-2, before barging ahead, 5-2 with a three-run fourth.
The Rattlers answered with a three-run fifth for a 5-5 deuce
match, then both teams traded single runs in the top of the sixth for a 6-6 score,
then headed to the extra frame after a scoreless seventh.
Pereira (1-0), a junior pitcher, went the distance,
working eight innings, scattering eight hits, allowing seven runs (five earned)
with seven strikeouts.