JACKSON, Miss. (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal, the Jackson State Tigers scored four runs in the bottom of the 11th inning, capped by a two-run single from Diego Melendez, to walk off with a 5-4 victory over the Florida A&M Rattlers in a Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball game Friday at Braddy Field.

The comeback spoiled a masterful pitching performance by Florida A&M starter Caleb Granger and overturned what had been a dominant outing for the visiting Rattlers.

Granger was nearly untouchable, throwing seven innings of no-hit ball. He allowed just one earned run on a first-inning RBI double by Tyree Reed, walked one and struck out five. He left the game with a 1-0 deficit, having been outdueled by a committee of Jackson State pitchers who kept the Rattlers off the scoreboard for the first seven frames.

The game was a tense pitcher’s duel into the late innings. Jackson State reliever Jaedeyn Edwards struck out five over two hitless innings, and Derek Arrocha followed with two strong innings of relief.

Florida A&M finally broke through in the top of the eighth. With the Rattlers still trailing 1-0, Jay Campbell walked, stole second and later scored on an RBI single by Matthew Perez to tie the game.

The contest remained deadlocked at 1-1 until the top of the 11th, when the Rattlers appeared to seize control. Ethan Miller led off the inning with a solo home run down the left-field line. Will Brown followed with a double and later scored on an error, and Caden Kresak came around to score on another Jackson State miscue after an RBI single, giving Florida A&M a 4-1 lead.

Needing three runs to extend the game, the Tigers’ comeback in the bottom half was fueled by Florida A&M’s defense. After a leadoff walk to Reed, Hederick Torres reached on an error by the shortstop. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position.

Edwin Lemus Hudson Jr. then delivered a two-run single through the right side, cutting the deficit to 4-3. Following a pitching change, Isaac McClenty kept the rally alive with a bunt single, and Payton Boines loaded the bases with an infield single.

After a fly out, Diego Melendez completed the improbable rally, lining a two-run single through the right side to score McClenty and pinch-runner Parker Winfield, triggering the celebration for the home team.

The loss negated a strong offensive showing from Florida A&M, which out-hit Jackson State 10 to 9. Perez and Josue Figueroa each had two hits for the Rattlers.

The win improved Jackson State’s season record to 13-17, while Florida A&M fell to 15-16. The result defied the pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted an 8-4 Rattlers victory and gave Florida A&M a 54.9% probability to win.

The two teams are scheduled to continue their three-game SWAC series Saturday at Braddy Field.