Box Score

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Freshman Christian Lucio hit his first career home run and senior Kaven Brown allowed just one earned run in 5-plus innings of work as the baseball team beat Florida A&M, 11-2, at the Andre Dawson Classic on Saturday in New Orleans.
 
The game was shown to a worldwide audience live on the MLB Network.
 
The Rattlers (0-2) scored first, with a run in the opening inning, but the Colonels (1-1) scored three in the bottom half and never trailed again.  Lucio and Michael Brewer each had RBI singles in the first inning.
 
EKU went up 5-1 with two runs in the second.  After Florida A&M scored a run in the fourth to get within three, the Colonels began to pull away.  Lucio began the bottom of the fifth with a lead-off home run that hugged the left field line until it went over the wall.  Chris Botsoe's sacrifice fly made it 7-2 after five.
 
That was more than enough for the Eastern's three pitchers.  Brown allowed just three hits and struck out seven over five and one-third innings to earn the win.  He allowed two runs, only one of which was earned and walked three.  Freshman Jacob Ferris came on in the sixth and struck out five over two and two-thirds innings.  He allowed one hit and walked two.  Aaron Ochsenbein, named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year watch list before the season started, struck out two in the ninth.
 
Will Johnson had a two-run double in the eighth to set the final score.
 
Lucio finished 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs.  Lyndon Weaver was 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
 
Eastern will conclude play at the Andre Dawson Classic against Prairie View A&M on Sunday at 12 p.m. ET.