A look at FAMU baseball, softball schedules and key players for this week's games
Florida A&M baseball and softball seasons are in full swing.
Both teams are getting their early-season assessments while playing a non-conference schedule.
FAMU baseball still has a little less than two weeks before its conference schedule begins.
The Rattlers softball team has one more non-conference contest before playing Southwestern Athletic Conference games exclusively.
Let’s look at FAMU baseball and softball schedules for the week.
FAMU baseball to play two NCAA Tournament teams this week
![Florida A&M's catcher Broedy Poppell (6) scores off Florida A&M's outfielder Zeddric Burnham (21) RBI single in the top of the eighth inning in the match-up against Florida, Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at Florida Ballpark in Gainesville, Florida. The Gators won 13-3. [Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun] 2022](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/rOaB_SugDJHMqTugVzRAzA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTg0NA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/tallahassee-democrat/05015e255228e1acd8f8e6efaad1f7e4)
The Rattlers (5-6) are looking to rebound after going 1-3 in their games last week.
FAMU played four games in five days last week in Georgia, two at Mercer in Macon, and two against Grambling State in Atlanta’s Ralph Garr-Bill Lucas HBCU Baseball Classic.
The Rattlers’ lone win was last Saturday, beating Grambling 2-1 in the first game of their Garr-Lucas doubleheader.
FAMU’s three losses to Mercer and Grambling were all by three runs or less.
Now, the Rattlers are refocusing on some stiff competition this week.
FAMU hosts Ball State at Moore-Kittles Field in a doubleheader on Wednesday, starting at 3 p.m.
The Ball State Cardinals appeared in the NCAA Regional last season. The Cardinals (7-4) last won a three-game weekend series 2-1 at Jacksonville.
For the weekend, the Rattlers will have the Indiana State Sycamores on campus for a four-game series from Friday to Sunday. FAMU and Indiana State will play a doubleheader on Saturday.
The defending Missouri Valley Champions, Indiana State, advanced to the NCAA Super Regional last season. The Sycamores (8-3) lost their three-game weekend series 1-2 at Southern Mississippi.
FAMU Players to Watch
Infielder True Fontenot: .370 batting average, 10 hits, five RBI, four runs
Pitcher Caleb Granger: 2.25 ERA, 14 strikeouts, 2-0 record
Catcher Broedy Poppell: 58 putouts, 10 hits, seven RBI, four runs
FAMU softball to begin SWAC schedule this week
It was a festive weekend for FAMU softball, which dedicated its field after Hall of Fame coach Veronica Wiggins, who won over 700 games with the program.
The Rattlers (3-13) won their first official game on Veronica Wiggins Field by beating Jacksonville 5-2 on Saturday. Jacksonville then defeated 8-2 FAMU in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader.
The teams met again on Sunday, but the game was canceled due to weather conditions at the top of the second inning. FAMU was leading Jacksonville 1-0 at the time of the cancellation.
FAMU will open its week hosting Mercer on Wiggins Field on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Mercer Bears (8-8) have lost three consecutive games, dropping their final trio of four in Gardner Webb’s in the Spring in the Springs Softball Tournament in North Carolina.
On Saturday, the real season begins for FAMU softball.
The Rattlers will be on the road for a three-game SWAC series at the Alabama A&M Bulldogs starting on Saturday and ending with a doubleheader on Sunday. Alabama A&M will return from a two-week hiatus to play FAMU. The Bulldogs last lost to Grambling State in their final game of the HBCU Celebration Classic in Montgomery.
FAMU Softball Players to Watch
Pitcher Zoryana Hughes: 4.43 ERA, 26 strikeouts, two saves
Outfielder Nyomi Jones: .388 batting average, 19 hits (second in SWAC), six runs, one homerun
Catcher Nyah Morgan: 22 putouts, 11 assists, nine hits
This Week's Florida A&M Rattlers Baseball Schedule
![Florida A&M head coach Jamey Shouppe with a mound visit in the top of the third inning against U Conn in Round 2 of NCAA Regionals, Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Florida. The Rattlers lost to the Huskies 9-6. [Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun] 2023](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/mZKRTrJnQAiw_xqbB9PcqA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcyMg--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/tallahassee-democrat/d6484f63176dc55854ae69c84fbd7638)
Tuesday, March 6: vs. Ball State at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. (Doubleheader)
Friday, March 8: vs. Indiana State at 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 9: vs. Indiana State at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Doubleheader)
Sunday, March 10: vs. Indiana State at 1 p.m.
All games will be played on Moore-Kittles Field on FAMU's campus.
This Week's Florida A&M Rattlers Softball Schedule
Wednesday, March 6: vs. Mercer on Veronica Wiggins Field at 5 p.m.
Saturday, March 9: at Alabama A&M at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Eastern Time (SWAC)
Sunday, March 10: at Alabama A&M at 11 a.m. Eastern Time (SWAC)
Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Checking out FAMU baseball and softball’s schedule for the week
