Florida A&M first baseman, Grant Rowell went a combined 6-for-10 with one homerun as FAMU dropped a pair of games against the No. 6 Florida Gators at Florida Ballpark on Friday night.
FAMU fell in the first contest 10-2, but not after sticking with the Gators for the bulk of the contest.
Second baseman Octavien Moyer and Rowell both went 2-for-4 at the plate in game one. Moyer had one RBI and a run scored with two strikeouts while Rowell hit a triple and scored the only other run for the Rattlers.
With the UF up 1-0 in the top of the second, Rowell sent a pitch to beyond the centerfielder for a triple. Freshman infielder Jospeh Pierini notched his first RBI with a single up the gap to score Rowell from third a tie the game at one.
In the sixth inning, Moyer jacked a pitch over the left field wall for his first homer of the year to cut the Gators advantage to 5-2.
However, UF broke the game open with a two out grand slam by Halter to give the Gators the 10-2 victory. UF outhit the Rattlers 16 to 5.
Kyle Coleman (0-2) got the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
UF’s Tommy Mace was awarded the victory, putting in 7.0 innings of work surrendering two runs on four hits with five strikeouts.
The Rattlers played the Gators tough in the nightcap, losing 5-1.
After a rough third inning that saw the Rattlers give up four runs, the Rattler pitching staff settled in a held the Gators scoreless over the next four innings.
In the top of the eighth inning, Rowell smashed a pitch to deep left field that found its way over the wall for a solo homerun.
The Gators added an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning to claim the four-run victory.
UF outhit FAMU 8 to 4 in the second contest.
Relief pitcher Kelyn Fox (0-1) was saddled with the loss. He worked 3.0 innings, allowing four runs on six hits with one walk.
Jack Leftwich got the victory for the Gators, throwing 8.0 innings, giving up one run on four hits with eight strikeouts.
