Braves Drop Conference Opener 5-1 to MVSU

LORMAN, Miss. – The Alcorn State University baseball squad dropped its conference opener against Mississippi Valley State University 5-1 Friday night at Rat McGowan Stadium.

The Braves managed four hits, one each from senior Justin Barna and juniors Wallace Rios Jimenez, AJ Makarewicz and Wilbert Malphus. Rios Jimenez has reached base in nine straight games, marking the longest such streak this season. 

Junior Jahborus Smith (0-4) took the loss on the mound, allowing eight hits and four runs (all earned) in five innings of work. Smith totaled eight strikeouts in the outing.

Junior Razedrick Winters scattered two hits in three relief innings, and redshirt senior Daniel Corona rounded out the pitchers with a perfect ninth.

Delta Devils (2-7, 1-0 SWAC) starter Dustin Stewart tossed 7.2 innings, giving up just three hits and one run while whiffing seven. MVSU's Kevin Gonzalez, who threw 1.1 scoreless relief innings, tallied two hits and two RBIs.

Gonzalez brought home Fredrick Spencer in the top of the first on a single through the left side to make it 1-0. Aaron Barkle recorded a similar hit in the third to plate Arrington Smith, increasing the lead to 2-0. 
 
After the Delta Devils notched two runs in the top of the sixth, Makarewicz hit a towering shot to left field that landed for a double, scoring freshman designated hitter Anthony Acosta. Alcorn (4-8, 0-1 SWAC) trailed 4-1 after six innings of play.

Gonzalez singled again in the eighth to give MVSU an insurance run at 5-1. Malphus answered with a double that landed near the left-field wall to commence the eighth, but the next three Braves were put out to end the threat.

Game 2 of the series will feature a noon first pitch on Saturday.

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