JACKSON, Miss. (Interstat) — In a wild Southwestern Athletic Conference contest that saw a combined 15 runs and 17 hits, Florida A&M outlasted Jackson State 8-7 in 10 innings Saturday afternoon at Braddy Field, avenging a heartbreaking extra-inning loss from the afternoon before.

The most critical juncture of the game came in the bottom of the ninth inning. Protecting an 8-6 lead, Florida A&M reliever JD Garner, who had entered in the eighth, loaded the bases with two hit batters. A fielding error by the pitcher then allowed one run to score, cutting the lead to one. Garner then walked Isaac McClenty on a full count to force in the tying run, sending the game to extra innings after Robert Tate Jr. grounded out.

The Rattlers responded immediately in the top of the 10th. Pinch-runner Alex Monile, who was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored the decisive run on a sacrifice fly by Justen Crews. Kevin De Los Santos entered for Jackson State and induced an inning-ending double play to limit the damage.

Florida A&M then turned to an unusual move to close the game. Infielder Jay Bell, who had walked three times and scored twice, took the mound for the bottom of the 10th. After a leadoff groundout and a walk, Bell got Tyree Reed to fly out. Tyshon Patty then singled for his third hit of the game, putting the potential tying and winning runs on base. Bell walked Hederick Torres to load the bases but struck out pinch-hitter Parker Winfield looking to end the marathon and earn the save.

The game was a stark contrast of pitching performances early. Florida A&M starter Garrett Workman was dominant, tossing six innings of no-hit ball. He allowed one earned run, walked two and struck out five. His counterpart, Jackson State’s Jayden Lopez, was nearly as sharp, giving up just two hits and one run over six innings with four strikeouts.

That lone run off Lopez was a solo home run by Florida A&M second baseman Will Brown in the third inning, which gave the Rattlers a 1-0 lead. Brown finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

The game erupted in the later innings. Florida A&M broke a 1-1 tie with a four-run eighth, highlighted by RBI singles from pinch-hitter Jackson McKenzie and Ethan Miller, and a sacrifice fly from Josue Figueroa. They added three more in the ninth, with Josh Bell delivering a key two-run single, to take an 8-4 lead.

Jackson State chipped away with two in the eighth on a sacrifice fly from Tate Jr. and an RBI double from Diego Melendez, who went 2-for-5 with an RBI. The Tigers then completed their comeback from an 8-4 deficit with two runs in the ninth to force extras, setting the stage for Florida A&M’s final push.

With the win, Florida A&M evened its season record at 16-16. Jackson State fell to 13-18. The teams conclude their three-game SWAC series on Sunday.