Baseball Falls to Florida A&M, 6-2 :: Dolphins look to bounce back against South Florida

Feb. 12, 2003

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Jacksonville University baseball team fell to Florida A&M, 6-2, in non-conference action at Moore-Kittles Field Wednesday afternoon in Tallahassee, Fla. Junior Orlando Diaz (Downers Grove, Ill.) went 1-for-2 with his first home run and a walk, while sophomore Tom Alford (Jacksonville/Mandarin) went 1-for-4 with an RBI single to lead the Dolphins. Junior Larry Best-Berfet (Newark, N.J.) chipped in with three hits and a stolen base. JU falls to 1-1 on the season, while the Rattlers improve to 6-5 overall and snap their 25-game losing streak to the Dolphins.

JU took an early 1-0 lead in the second as senior Chad Hauseman (Pottstown, Pa.) led off the inning with a walk. Sophomore Alex Jamieson (Sarasota, Fla.) followed with a single giving the Dolphins runners at the corners and two batters later Alford delivered a two-out RBI single, scoring Hauseman.

The Rattlers rallied in the sixth as Frank Scott drew a one-out walk from reliever Dennis Robinson (Putnam Valley, N.Y.). After a passed ball and a balk, Scott tied the game as Robinson threw the ball away in an attempt to pick him off at third. Nick Parker and Chris Branning followed with back-to-back singles and a double by Ben Morgan allowed Parker to score, giving FAMU the 2-1 lead.

FAMU extended its lead scoring two runs each in the seventh and eighth innings with Parker collecting an RBI on a fielder's choice in the seventh and Virgil Priestly delivering a two-run single in the eighth that put the game out of reach. Diaz led off the eighth with a home run for the Dolphins, his first of the season.

Dolphins' starter Ryan Courson (North Ft. Myers, Fla.) surrendered a lead-off double to Scott in the first, but proceeded to retire the next 12 batters, while recording four strikeouts over four innings. Robinson (0-1) earned the loss pitching 1.2 innings in relief, giving up two earned runs.

Leading the Rattlers offensively were Morgan, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, and Priestly, who went 1-for-4 with two RBI. Scott Leitz (1-1) picked up the win, tossing 6.2 innings allowing an earned run, while recording one strikeout.

JU returns to action Saturday, Feb. 15 traveling to Tampa, Fla., to take on the South Florida Bulls in a two-game set at Red McEwen Field.