![\"SWAC](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Southwestern-Athletic-Conference.png\")
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Next Game:<\/p>\n
vs. SWAC Tournament<\/p>\n
5\/5\/2026 | <\/p>\n
\n May. 05 (Tue)
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\n vs.\u00a0SWAC Tournament
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History <\/a><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n TALLAHASSEE, Fla. \u2014 Florida A&M softball split a home SWAC doubleheader with Jackson State on Saturday, falling 3-2 in the opener before rallying to win the nightcap 11-3 in five innings via the run rule. The split moved FAMU to 28-19 overall and 19-5 in conference play. Junior outfielder Jordan Douglas<\/a> was the hero of the second game, belting two home runs and driving in six, while senior Amari Brown<\/a> added a three-run triple as the Rattlers erupted for 14 hits to close out the day on a high note.<\/p>\n GAME 1 \u2014 Jackson State 3, Florida A&M 2<\/p>\n Graduate senior Samantha Smith<\/a> went the distance but suffered a hard-luck loss as Florida A&M fell 3-2 to Jackson State in the opener, dropping to 9-7 on the season in the circle. Smith scattered seven hits across seven innings and limited the Tigers to three runs despite facing a speed-heavy lineup that swiped four bases on the afternoon.<\/p>\n Jackson State did all of its damage in the first inning. Ka’Liyah Gipson reached with a single and stole second before Jace Jackson drove her home with a two-run triple to center field. Meah Almaraz reached on a fielder’s choice to score Jackson, then pinch runner Karli Cunningan stole second and third. Gabrielle Willis added a sacrifice fly to plate Cunningan and make it 3-0 before Smith retired the next batter to end the inning.<\/p>\n Smith then locked in. She retired the side in order in the third, held the Tigers to a single and a walk over the next three innings, and stranded a pair in the seventh. Her final line \u2014 seven innings, seven hits, no walks after the first, three strikeouts \u2014 was the kind of outing that wins most games.<\/p>\n FAMU’s comeback bid came alive in the fourth. Keeleigh Spooner<\/a> drew a walk and senior Sakiya Merriex<\/a> ran for her. Jordan Douglas<\/a> followed with a double to first base, advancing Merriex to third. Smith then delivered the big blow, lacing a two-run double to shortstop that plated both Douglas and Merriex to make it a 3-2 ballgame.<\/p>\n Madison Jenkins<\/a> ran for Smith, advanced to third on a wild pitch, but was stranded when Makayla Register<\/a> grounded out and Aniya Canty<\/a> struck out to end the inning.<\/p>\n The Rattlers put two more runners on in the seventh \u2014 Amya Ramos<\/a> singled as a pinch hitter, Amari Brown<\/a> singled with two out and Neriah Lee<\/a> on third \u2014 but Spooner’s fly ball to center ended the threat. Brooklyn Morris earned the complete-game win for Jackson State, working around seven FAMU hits and three walks while striking out three.<\/p>\n Batting Pitching Florida A&M answered the opener with a dominant run-rule victory in five innings, putting up 11 runs on 14 hits and sending the home crowd home with a split. The Rattlers scored in four of their five at-bats and did the bulk of their damage in a massive first inning \u2014 plating six runs \u2014 and never looked back. Freshman pitcher Sariah Espada<\/a> earned the win, holding Jackson State to four hits and three runs while working all five innings.<\/p>\n The tone was set immediately. Neriah Lee<\/a> drew a leadoff walk, Braxtyn Battle<\/a> bunted for a single, and Jamison Townsend<\/a> walked to load the bases. Senior Amari Brown<\/a> then crushed a three-run triple to left field, clearing the bags and knotting the score at 3-3 after Jackson State had scored three in the top half. Keeleigh Spooner<\/a> was hit by a pitch, and pinch runner Sakiya Merriex<\/a> came in to run. Jordan Douglas<\/a> followed with a towering three-run home run to center field \u2014 her first of the day \u2014 to give FAMU a 6-3 lead it would never relinquish.<\/p>\n Douglas was not finished. In the second inning, with Brown aboard after a single, she launched a two-run shot to left field to extend the lead to 8-3. The junior outfielder from Calera, Ala., finished 3-for-3 with two home runs and six RBI \u2014 the kind of performance that changes the complexion of a season down the stretch. Brown was equally spectacular, going 3-for-3 with a triple and five RBI to give the two Rattlers a combined 11 RBI.<\/p>\n FAMU added a run in the fourth on a Douglas RBI single that plated Townsend, and closed out the run rule in the fifth. A. Canty drew a walk, Lee laid down a bunt single, and pinch hitter Amya Ramos<\/a> singled to center to load the bases. Townsend singled to push two across before Brown delivered yet again, singling to center for two more RBI and the 11-3 final. Jackson State starter Jayden Rutledge was chased without recording an out after giving up six runs, including a hit batter and a Douglas home run before getting a single out. Addison Jennings absorbed most of the damage in four innings of relief.<\/p>\n Batting
\nSamantha Smith<\/a> \u2014 2-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI, BB
\nJordan Douglas<\/a> \u2014 1-for-3, 2B
\nAniya Canty<\/a> \u2014 1-for-3
\nMakayla Register<\/a> \u2014 1-for-3
\nAmari Brown<\/a> \u2014 1-for-4
\nAmya Ramos<\/a> \u2014 1-for-1 (PH)<\/p>\n
\nSamantha Smith<\/a> (L, 9-7) \u2014 7.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 109 pitches
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\nGAME 2 \u2014 Florida A&M 11, Jackson State 3 (5 innings)<\/p>\n
\nEspada, who worked out of several jams created by five walks, was sharp when it mattered most, inducing ground balls and flying outs at key moments.<\/p>\n
\nJordan Douglas<\/a> \u2014 3-for-3, 2 HR, RBI single, 6 RBI, 2 R
\nAmari Brown<\/a> \u2014 3-for-3, 3B, RBI single, 5 RBI, 2 R
\nNeriah Lee<\/a> \u2014 2-for-3, 2 R, BB
\nJamison Townsend<\/a> \u2014 2-for-3, 1 R, BB
\nBraxtyn Battle<\/a> \u2014 1-for-3, bunt single, 1 R
\nKeeleigh Spooner<\/a> \u2014 1-for-2, HBP
\nMakayla Register<\/a> \u2014 1-for-3
\nAmya Ramos<\/a> \u2014 1-for-1, 1B (PH)
\nSakiya Merriex<\/a> \u2014 1 R (PR)<\/p>\n