'My second home': FAMU baseball's Janmikell Bastardo excited for return to former program

Florida A&M baseball is moving forward with a sense of encouragement.

After the Rattlers (15-17, 9-3 SWAC) dropped a standing-implicating Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series at Bethune Cookman, it would funnel over to four straight losses.

But FAMU will have to worry no more after beating Jackson State in the latter two games of a three-game series at Moore-Kittles Field to end the team's struggles last weekend.

"Those were some character wins," FAMU head coach Jamey Shouppe said. "I was excited about our club after Friday's doubleheader sweep because we did not play well against Jackson State last year."

The Rattlers missed All-SWAC starting pitcher Hunter Viets in the JSU series due to elbow soreness. But, he'll be back in FAMU's upcoming three-game series at Alabama A&M (11-16, 2-8 SWAC) from Friday to Sunday.

Shouppe said the senior pitcher will likely start in one game of the series.

The Rattlers swept the Bulldogs when the team's met in a late-March conference series. But that won’t impact FAMU’s approach this weekend.

"[Alabama A&M] is better than they have been," Shouppe said. "You never know what's going to happen in a conference game. Our coaching staff always stress the importance of not worrying about who you play or what happened last time you played them ― win or lose.

"It's a motivating factor for Alabama A&M that we swept them and we can't get caught up in that or anything other than playing the game the best we can.

"If we do that, I like our young men."

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FAMU's Janmikell Bastardo grateful for Alabama A&M's role in his baseball journey

This weekend will be a homecoming for FAMU senior outfielder Janmikell Bastardo.

He played at Alabama A&M for three years before returning to his home state of Florida; transferring to play at FAMU.

"You kind of get homesick while being away for three years," Bastardo, from Fort Myers, said. "I love the atmosphere [at FAMU]. My teammates have made me feel at home and helped me get used to how this program is ran.

"Being with the Rattlers has been a great experience. I love Coach Shouppe and love my teammates."

All coaches are connected.

So, when Bastardo entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, Shouppe gave a call to Alabama A&M baseball head coach Elliot Jones before beginning the recruiting process.

"[Bastardo] just wanted to get back home," Shouppe said. "I called [Jones] before we returned to the call to Bastardo just to make sure he understood that [Bastardo] was in the transfer portal. Bastardo is very appreciative of [Jones] giving him the opportunity to play. That's what college baseball is all about.

"He's mature enough to understand that it's just another baseball game. It'll be good for him to see his friends, guys he played with, and his former coach. I don't think he'll get caught up in the emotions once the first pitch is thrown."

Bastardo left Alabama A&M with no hard feelings.

He still possess those bonds with teammates and coaches that he befriended during his time in Huntsville.

"Alabama A&M was my second home and I still love each and every one of those guys out there," Bastardo said. "It's important to keep those connections after being with those guys for three years. You develop great relationships that go outside of baseball and past college that will last a lifetime.

"I've played a lot of games there. It'll feel a little familiar going back to Bulldog Field and playing against my old teammates there after playing there for three years.

"Just being on the other side of the dugout and playing against old friends ― I'm excited for it and it'll be a great experience."

Bastardo is a reliable hitter for FAMU.

He leads the team with a .394 batting average and is tied for first with Ty Jackson at 41 total hits.

Bastardo also has six homeruns on the year. Four of those homers occurred against his former squad Alabama A&M in the team's first series which concluded with Bastardo slamming three balls out of Moore-Kittles Field in March.

The performance earned him that week's SWAC Baseball Hitter of the Week honor.

"We've done a really great job offensive wise," he said. "All of that extra work that we've put in the cages ― late nights, early mornings ― they've really paid off and I'm excited to see what we can do for the rest of the season."

Florida A&M at Alabama A&M SWAC Baseball Series Information

When: Friday, April 14 at 3 p.m.; Saturday, April 15 at 1 p.m.; Sunday, April 16 at 2 p.m. ― EASTERN TIME

Where: Bulldog Field, Huntsville, Alabama

FAMU softball makes long-awaited return to the field for Senior Day weekend

FAMU softball is finally taking the field again.

It's been ten days since the Rattlers (15-15, 8-4 SWAC) played after their entire series against Alabama A&M was rained out in Huntsville last week.

Now, they will take on the Alabama State Hornets (22-16, 11-4 SWAC) for a three-game series at the University Softball Complex in Tallahassee from Friday to Sunday.

Saturday will be FAMU softball's Senior Day.

"It's exciting to be back at home for the first game in a week and a half," FAMU head coach Camise Patterson said. "It's a lot of excitement surrounding the whole weekend. I helped recruit or was instrumental to bringing a lot of players that are graduating here.

"It's bittersweet, but I'm excited to see what they move on to once they leave FAMU."

Outfielder Melkayla Irvis is one of ten seniors that will play their final home series at FAMU.

She's currently tied for second in the nation for triples with six total this year despite not playing a single game last weekend.

"I'm really having mixed emotions because I just can't really believe it, but I'm excited to put on for our fans," Irvis said. "I can't even help but to be humble and respect everyone in the game because that's what has gotten me to this position.

"Shout to those girls that's up there, but I'm coming for you."

The Rattlers have big goals this season despite having a new head coach in Patterson.

But new leadership hasn't stunted FAMU's growth as a team.

"It's always difficult when you have a change of leadership," Patterson said. "The team has done really well with doing everything I've asked them to with very little complaints and have really stuck to the program.

"We understand that we have a big purpose this year and we will have to be a single unit to fulfill that. Hopefully, they understand that it's paying off."

The Rattlers' continued drive for excellence will start with beating Alabama State to avenge the loss in the March series.

"We're going to show them how bad we've been wanting to be back out here on the field," Irvis said. "[Alabama State] is a good team, but we have to have that mentality that we are the better team.

"We owe ASU a butt-whupping from the last time we played because we let them slip away. It just a matter of putting it into action."

Florida A&M vs. Alabama State SWAC Softball Series Information

When: Friday, April 14 at 5 p.m.; Saturday, April 15 at 3 p.m. (SENIOR DAY); Sunday, April 16 at 1 p.m. ― EASTERN TIME

Where: University Softball Complex; Tallahassee, Florida

Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Baseball: Janmikell Bastardo excited for return against old team