The FAMU Rattler baseball team claimed its second victory of the season last night with a 3-1 victory over the Grambling State Tigers in game two of the Ralph Garr-Bill Lucas HBCU Baseball Classic outside Atlanta.
The Rattlers improved to 2-12 on the season, while Grambling dropped to 0-10.
Josh Hancock pitched 5.1 scoreless innings for the Rattlers and kept the Tiger hitters off balance throughout the evening, while striking out three. At one point, Hancock retired 10 batters in row.
Joseph Pierini got the Rattlers (2-12) on the board in the top on the second inning, drilling a 2-RBI double, brining in Grant Rowell and LJ Bryant to give the Rattlers a 2-0 lead. Two batters later, JD Tease followed with a ground ball to first base that brought Pierini across the plate, increasing the lead to 3-0.
GSU mounted a late come back in the bottom of the ninth. The Tigers loaded the bases with no outs. GSU scored its only run of the ball game when FAMU pitchers walked Tiger batter Cameron Buford with the bases loaded to cut to the FAMU lead to 3-1.
Chandellor Benton entered the game with no outs and the bases still loaded, striking out the first two batters he faced. Down to its final out, GSU's Cameron Phelts hit a pitch up the middle for what looked like it would be the game winning hit. However, Tease ranged over behind second base, throwing the runner out at second, preserving the victory and clinching the series for the Rattlers.
FAMU looks for its first series sweep of the season, as the Rattlers and Triger wrap up the Ralph Garr-Bill Lucas HBCU Baseball Classic on today at 1 p.m.