Alcorn Falls in Series Finale after Fast Start

JACKSON, Miss. – The Alcorn State University baseball program jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings, but Jackson State was able to come back for an 11-6 final Sunday at Bob Braddy Field in the last of a three-game series.
 
Junior Wallace Rios Jimenez shined at the plate after going three-for-three with two runs and an RBI. He extended his on-base streak to 16 games. It was the second time he knocked three hits in a game this season.
 
Also with multi-hit performances, senior Jason Sanez and junior Der'Vincent Hamilton both went two-for-four. The Braves (7-12, 3-3 SWAC) notched 12 hits in the game as seven of their nine starters recorded at least one.
 
Alcorn got ahead of JSU (15-8, 6-3 SWAC) in the first inning on a two-out single to center field by senior Walter Vives. It scored Rios who led off the game with a single down the left field line and stole second.
 
The Braves added on with three more runs in the second, all with two outs. Hamilton started the rally with a double to right field, and senior Justin Barna followed with a double to left center to tally an RBI. After junior A.J. Makarewicz was hit by a pitch, junior Kirt Cormier ripped a hit up the middle to pick up a pair of RBI.
 
The Tigers came back with two in the third and three in the fourth to take a 5-4 lead.
 
In the top of the fifth, Alcorn tied it 5-5 on a single to left field by Sanez. It plated Vives who walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
 
Though, JSU scored three in the bottom half to re-take an 8-5 advantage.
 
Alcorn's final run came in the sixth inning when Cormier hit a sacrifice fly to right field. It scored junior Nicholas Hayes-Saltare after he came in to pitch-hit, singled to left field, advanced to second on a walk and to third on a balk.
 
Senior Austin Willis-Green got the start and was given a no-decision after lasting 3.1 innings. Senior Daniel Belmont (1-2) pitched the next 2.2 innings and took the loss. Sophomore Carlos Lopez tossed the final 2.0 frames and allowed just one run.
 
Alcorn tagged JSU starter Miguel Yrigoyen with five runs on 10 hits in 4.2 innings. Jose Tirado (1-0) earned the win after tossing 4.1 frames. Bryce Brown led the Tigers at the plate with a four-for-five outing and three runs scored.
 
The Braves will have the week off before hosting Alabama A&M next weekend in a three-game series at Willie E. "Rat" McGowan Stadium. Game one is slated for Friday at 6 p.m.
 
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