TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 11, 2009) ? The Delaware State Baseball Team (14-13-1, 6-2 MEAC) split its doubleheader with the Florida A&M Ratters (12-16, 3-4 MEAC) on Saturday, April 11, taking the first game, 9-1, and dropping the second, 6-4.
Junior Abe Eubank finished the day hitting 4-for-8 with four RBI and two runs scored, while senior James Johnson batted .500 (3-for-6) with and RBI and three runs scored versus the Rattlers.
Game One was highlighted by Dan Perkins' strong performance on the mound. For the third-straight start, Perkins registered 10-or-more strikeouts. The Newark, Del., native hurled his third complete game of the season, allowing one run (unearned) on five hits while striking out 10. Holding FAMU to a .156 team batting average, Perkins improved his record to 3-3 on the year with a 1.97 ERA. The right-hander extended his streak of consecutive innings without an earned run to 26.
The Hornets jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first following a sac fly by Ross Babineaux and an RBI single by Eubank. DSU added a run in the top fourth and three more in the top of the fifth to take a 6-0 lead. A three-run home run by Eubank (his fourth long ball of the year) accounted for all three DSU runs in the top of the fifth. Mike Rizzuto drove in the team's seventh run of the game in the top of the sixth. Rizzuto finished the day hitting 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. FAMU got on the board in the bottom of the seventh however, Perkins and the DSU defense shut the door as the Rattlers were unable to cross home plate for the rest of the game. DSU added some insurance runs in the top of the ninth, scoring two following an RBI single by Johnson and an RBI double by Jose Portela.
The Rattlers committed six errors in the game and were held to five hits. DSU drove in nine runs on seven hits while committing one error.
FAMU's Tim Jones was saddled with the loss, allowing six runs (three earned) on four hits in five innings of action. Jones struck out three DSU batters and walked six.
The Rattlers rebounded in the second game, scoring four runs in the first two innings. An RBI single by Jose Sanchez in the top of the third cut FAMU's lead to 4-1. The Rattlers responded with two runs in the bottom of the third to take a 6-1 lead. The Hornets tacked on a run in each of the next three innings to pull within two runs of Florida A&M. The Hornets failed to score any more runs, dropping Game Two, 6-4.
Josh Schmidt (4-4) suffered the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) on 12 hits, while striking out six in five and two-thirds innings pitched.
Rattler starter Anthony Espin picked up the win, giving up four runs (two earned) on seven hits in six innings of action. Espin struck out eight DSU hitters and walked eight.
Delaware State registered seven hits in Game Two, scoring four runs and committing one error. Florida A&M tallied six runs on 12 hits while committing two errors in the second game of Saturday's twin bill.
Delaware State will close out its three-game series with FAMU on Sunday, April 12. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
