Salisbury, Md. (May 14, 2015) --- Florida A&M broke open a close game in the late innings of an 11-2 win over Delaware State in a MEAC Tournament third round contest at Arthur W. Purdue Stadium today.
Top-seeded Florida A&M advances to Saturday's championship round as the only unbeaten team in the double-elimination tournament. The third-seeded Hornets will face either Norfolk State or Bethune-Cookman in an elimination game on Friday. A DSU win on Friday would set up a rematch with Florida A&M in Saturday's championship round.
Delaware State led 1-0 before the Rattlers scored five runs in the sixth inning to take the lead. Florida A&M added a run in the seventh and five more in the eighth to blow the game open.
The Hornets scored first with a run in the second inning. Jaylen Zielecki drew a one-out walk and scored on a throwing error by Florida A&M third baseman Ryan Kennedy on a grounder by Austin Bentley.
Delaware State starter Zach Candeloro held the Rattlers at bay for the first five innings, allowing just three singles and striking out three. Candeloro was relieved by Hunter McVey after giving up three hits to begin the Florida A&M sixth. Kennedy's sixth-inning double off Candeloro tied the score at 1-1.
Florida A&M's Brian Davis greeted McVey with a two-run single to give the Rattlers a 3-1 lead in the sixth.
Davis also drove in a run on a sac fly in the seventh to give Florida A&M a 6-1 lead.
The Hornets got a run back in the eighth on a one-out single by Austin Bentley to score Justin Allen, who singled earlier in the inning. Bentley had two of Delaware State's seven hits in the contest.
A two-run double by A.J. Elkins was the big blow in Florida A&M's five-run eighth.
Marlo Gibbs was four-for-five with a run batted in, while Jeremy Barlow had three hits and a RBI in five at bats for the Rattlers.
Florida A&M starter Ricky Page (2-0) was the winning pitcher. He allowed just three hits and one unearned run, while striking out five in seven innings.
Candeloro (1-1) was tagged with the loss for Delaware State.
