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Oftentimes, the saying goes that “defense wins championships.”
However, Florida A&M baseball’s defense is heavily accredited for its early regular season success, as the Rattlers are 12-13 overall and tied for the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s top record at 5-1 after winning series versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff and most recently Alabama State last weekend.
Six SWAC games and two series in, the Rattlers have the league’s sixth-best defense out of 12 teams, the fourth-most double plays, and the best in statistics for preventing stolen bases.
“Defense plays a big part in the game. We got to pitch and play defense, and if we can’t do that, we’re not going to win many games,” said FAMU second baseman Will Brown, who has nine double plays this season after missing all of 2024 with a labrum injury.
“We’ve done pretty well with that. We haven’t made many errors. Our defense is pretty solid this year.”
Josue Figueroa mans the first base while Brown plays second, and Matthew Perez rounds out the basemen at third. Four-year starter Jalen Niles starts at shortstop.
Ben Kim secures the left side of the outfield while about three players rotate centerfield and rightfield duties.
“We know what our mix is defensively,” FAMU head coach Jamey Shouppe said. “I wouldn’t say the lineup is set, but it’s pretty well. We know who will be in at least six or seven spots.”
FAMU baseball’s defense still has one of the nation’s best pitchers in its artillery, Caleb Granger, who leads the SWAC with a 2.03 earned run average.
The SWAC named Granger its Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Granger also garnered NCBWA Division I Preseason All-American honors, the only HBCU player to appear on the player to get the honor.
“I got guys that can back me up. It helps as a pitcher,” Granger said. “That goes to show how good of a coaching staff we have. They work daily to ensure we’re the best we can be.”
FAMU’s defensive numbers include games versus Southeastern Conference team Missouri and 22nd-ranked Troy. The Rattlers lost by two or fewer runs to both teams.
Those games versus higher talent may skew defensive stats, but they may jump as most of FAMU’s contests are within the SWAC.
“I think we’re better than what our numbers show. But it’s early,” Granger said. “So, we have a lot more time for everybody else to mess up, and we stay where we are.”
Ethan Miller, a catcher, leads the Rattlers with a perfect fielding percentage.
He is second on FAMU with 59 putouts and tied for first in catching five runners stealing.
“Defense has been huge between double plays and clutch pitching,” Miller said. “Defensively, I’ve been solid. I’m pretty sure I’ve been better defensively than offensively, helping us out ― saving runs, stealing strikes here and there ― just doing what I can to help us a get a W.”
What makes Miller’s stats so impressive from behind the plate is that he performs as a backup behind All-SWAC performer Broedy Poppell.
It’s a testament to the depth FAMU baseball has on its defense.
“I can look at just about any position and say if a guy goes down, I have confidence in the next guy up,” Granger said. “Numerous guys at each position could fill in the spot and do just fine. It’s a good problem to have.”
Next, FAMU baseball has Prairie View A&M visiting Moore-Kittles Field for a three-game SWAC series from Friday to Sunday.
The PVAMU Panthers are 8-19 overall with a 4-2 SWAC record, with two series wins versus Jackson State and Southern.
The Rattlers and Panthers will play at 4 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday. However, Sunday’s matchup may be packaged into a doubleheader on Saturday due to possible rain in Tallahassee, Shouppe told the Tallahassee Democrat.
“It’s SWAC baseball. Every game means something and is important,” Shouppe said. “[Prairie View] is a good ball club. So, we know we got our work cut out for us. We play the game; I’ll take our chances against anybody if we play up to our capability.”
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at [email protected] or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU baseball's defense leading to success entering SWAC series vs PVAMU
Continue reading...
However, Florida A&M baseball’s defense is heavily accredited for its early regular season success, as the Rattlers are 12-13 overall and tied for the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s top record at 5-1 after winning series versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff and most recently Alabama State last weekend.
Six SWAC games and two series in, the Rattlers have the league’s sixth-best defense out of 12 teams, the fourth-most double plays, and the best in statistics for preventing stolen bases.
“Defense plays a big part in the game. We got to pitch and play defense, and if we can’t do that, we’re not going to win many games,” said FAMU second baseman Will Brown, who has nine double plays this season after missing all of 2024 with a labrum injury.
“We’ve done pretty well with that. We haven’t made many errors. Our defense is pretty solid this year.”
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Josue Figueroa mans the first base while Brown plays second, and Matthew Perez rounds out the basemen at third. Four-year starter Jalen Niles starts at shortstop.
Ben Kim secures the left side of the outfield while about three players rotate centerfield and rightfield duties.
“We know what our mix is defensively,” FAMU head coach Jamey Shouppe said. “I wouldn’t say the lineup is set, but it’s pretty well. We know who will be in at least six or seven spots.”
FAMU baseball’s defense still has one of the nation’s best pitchers in its artillery, Caleb Granger, who leads the SWAC with a 2.03 earned run average.
You must be registered for see images attach
The SWAC named Granger its Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Granger also garnered NCBWA Division I Preseason All-American honors, the only HBCU player to appear on the player to get the honor.
“I got guys that can back me up. It helps as a pitcher,” Granger said. “That goes to show how good of a coaching staff we have. They work daily to ensure we’re the best we can be.”
FAMU’s defensive numbers include games versus Southeastern Conference team Missouri and 22nd-ranked Troy. The Rattlers lost by two or fewer runs to both teams.
Those games versus higher talent may skew defensive stats, but they may jump as most of FAMU’s contests are within the SWAC.
“I think we’re better than what our numbers show. But it’s early,” Granger said. “So, we have a lot more time for everybody else to mess up, and we stay where we are.”
FAMU baseball's defense has many contributing factors
Ethan Miller, a catcher, leads the Rattlers with a perfect fielding percentage.
He is second on FAMU with 59 putouts and tied for first in catching five runners stealing.
“Defense has been huge between double plays and clutch pitching,” Miller said. “Defensively, I’ve been solid. I’m pretty sure I’ve been better defensively than offensively, helping us out ― saving runs, stealing strikes here and there ― just doing what I can to help us a get a W.”
What makes Miller’s stats so impressive from behind the plate is that he performs as a backup behind All-SWAC performer Broedy Poppell.
It’s a testament to the depth FAMU baseball has on its defense.
“I can look at just about any position and say if a guy goes down, I have confidence in the next guy up,” Granger said. “Numerous guys at each position could fill in the spot and do just fine. It’s a good problem to have.”
FAMU baseball look to stay atop SWAC standings vs host Prairie View A&M this weekend
Next, FAMU baseball has Prairie View A&M visiting Moore-Kittles Field for a three-game SWAC series from Friday to Sunday.
The PVAMU Panthers are 8-19 overall with a 4-2 SWAC record, with two series wins versus Jackson State and Southern.
The Rattlers and Panthers will play at 4 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday. However, Sunday’s matchup may be packaged into a doubleheader on Saturday due to possible rain in Tallahassee, Shouppe told the Tallahassee Democrat.
“It’s SWAC baseball. Every game means something and is important,” Shouppe said. “[Prairie View] is a good ball club. So, we know we got our work cut out for us. We play the game; I’ll take our chances against anybody if we play up to our capability.”
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at [email protected] or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU baseball's defense leading to success entering SWAC series vs PVAMU
Continue reading...
