HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Interstat) — Jackson McKenzie drove in four runs with a double and a home run, and the Florida A&M Rattlers held off the Alabama A&M Bulldogs 9-8 on Thursday evening at Bulldog Field.

McKenzie, the designated hitter, went 2 for 4 and delivered the go-ahead blast in the fourth inning after the Rattlers had fallen behind 5-3. Florida A&M improved to 22-22 overall, while the Bulldogs dropped to 7-39.

Alabama A&M struck first, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Tarris Murray singled in Bryce Hammonds, Zak Rice doubled in Murray, and AJ Anderson singled in Rice. The Bulldogs added two unearned runs in the second inning on a pair of errors, taking a 5-3 lead.

The Rattlers answered in the top of the fourth with a six-run outburst. Will Brown launched a three-run homer to score Matthew Perez and Colton Ryals. Jay Campbell doubled in Caden Kresak, and McKenzie followed with a two-run homer to bring home Campbell, pushing Florida A&M ahead 9-5.

Alabama A&M chipped away. Miles Jackson, who finished 3 for 4 with an RBI, sparked a rally in the third inning that trimmed the deficit to 9-6. In the sixth, Zak Rice singled in Jackson, and an Anderson sacrifice fly brought Murray home, cutting the margin to 9-8.

Rattlers reliever Ryan Young entered with one out in the sixth and stranded two runners. He pitched 3 2/3 hitless innings, striking out five to preserve the lead. Clark Lincoln had worked four innings earlier, allowing two earned runs on no hits with three strikeouts.

Bulldogs relievers Brady Baxter and Antonio Torres combined for 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just two hits and striking out three. Baxter threw two innings of one-hit ball.

Will Brown went 2 for 5 with the home run and three RBIs, and Jay Campbell was 3 for 5 with an RBI for Florida A&M. The Rattlers collected 13 hits. Alabama A&M had 10 hits, led by Jackson and Rice, who each drove in two runs. Litarris Murray went 2 for 4 with an RBI.

The game featured five errors, three by Florida A&M, leading to four unearned runs for the Bulldogs.

Florida A&M entered the game having lost three straight to Grambling, including a 19-9 defeat Sunday. The Rattlers had won four of their previous six. Alabama A&M had lost 10 of its last 11 and fell to 2-16 in its last 18 games.

The series continues Friday with the second game of the three-game set at Bulldog Field.