By Ty’Rique Sims Athletic Communications Coordinator FAMU
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Senior Ty Hanchey collected two extra base hits, but the Florida A&M Rattlers fell to the No. 10 UConn Huskies 9-6 Saturday.
Senior Zach Morea (4-4) took the loss on the mound for Florida A&M (29-30).
Hanchey’s two extra base hits were the highlight of a 2-for-4 day, and included a double, a home run and an RBI. Senior Jared Weber put together a standout performance at the plate as well, going 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. Senior Janmikell Bastardo also contributed for the Rattlers, putting together one hit in four trips to the plate while adding a home run and an RBI.
“To begin with, I know there’s not a lot of Florida staff here right now, but thanks to you guys for a tournament very well ran,” said Head Coach Jamey Shouppe. “We were happy to be here, we thought we had a chance to make some more special memories even though this season has already given us a lot of them. A lot of those memories were due to the two gentlemen to my flanks [Ty Hanchey and Jared Weber]. It was a good season for FAMU baseball. We still have to get over the barrier of coming to the Regional Tournament and winning a baseball game. Both games we lost were three-run ballgames, we’re getting closer. I still think the program is ascending and there is plenty of time to worry about next season before we start in the fall. Today is more about getting over the disappointment as a team and celebrating what these seniors have done for us. These two guys [Ty Hanchey and Jared Weber] are the only two guys in the lineup that will not be back with us next season, along with the pitching staff Hunter Viets and Zach Morea. Viets started and Morea threw in the middle. The future is bright and we are excited about that but it is going to be different without a guy who has been with me five years. Thanks to Florida. Disappointed, but this is the best place you can be disappointed at the end of your season.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Rattlers got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Weber put Florida A&M on the board with a two-out solo home run off sophomore Thomas Ellisen.
After the Huskies rallied to tie the ballgame at one, the Rattlers came back to retake the lead in the third inning. Florida A&M picked up a run on Hanchey’s two-out solo home run off of Ellisen, which brought the Rattlers lead to 2-1.
Florida A&M’s lead had disappeared by the time the fourth inning came around and turned into a 4-2 UConn advantage, when the Rattlers cut that deficit to 4-3. The Rattlers recorded a run on Bastardo’s one-out solo home run off sophomore Joe Carrea.
The Huskies expanded their lead to 5-3 before the Florida A&M offense got back to work, tying it up in the fifth. Sophomore Jalen Niles and junior Ty Jackson each scored a run for the Rattlers in the inning, evening the score at 5-5.
UConn then broke up that tie and took an 8-5 lead moving into the eighth, when the Rattlers narrowed the gap to 8-6. Florida A&M picked up a run on freshman Joseph Pierini’s two-out solo home run off of senior Devin Kirby. The Rattlers were unable to get any closer, as UConn added one run to their tally on the way to a 9-6 final.
