Alcorn Crushes MVSU 13-0 in Seven Innings to Win Series

ITTA BENA, Miss. – An all-around effort by the Alcorn State University baseball program resulted in a 13-0, seven-inning victory over Mississippi Valley State in the series finale Saturday at Magnolia Field.
 
It was the first shutout of the season for the Braves (9-22, 5-10 SWAC) who also outhit the Delta Devils (5-25, 4-14 SWAC) 14-4.
 
Sophomore Carlos Lopez tossed a complete-game shutout to improve his record to 4-3 on the year. He allowed just four hits and struck out four.
 
At the plate, seniors Kirt Cormier and Walter Vives each registered three hits. Cormier increased his on-base streak to 19 games.
 
With a walk to start the game, junior Wallace Rios Jimenez upped his on-base streak to 28 games.
 
The Braves wasted little time as they plate five runs in their first at-bat. Rios walked, moved to second on a single by junior D'Vennio Warner and scored on a double by Vives. A single by senior Jason Sanez scored another, and a bases loaded walk by senior Patrick McMahon made it 3-0. A two-out, two-RBI hit by sophomore Brandon Barna scored Sanez and senior Justin Barna who had reached on a walk.
 
Alcorn put the game away with a huge eight-run third inning. Junior Der'Vincent Hamilton led it off with his first homer of the year. It was the first of seven hits for the Braves in the frame as they sent 12 batters to the plate. Vives notched a two-RBI hit as well as Hamilton in his second at-bat in the inning.
 
The Braves jumped on MVSU starter Dustin Stewart quickly as he lasted just 0.2 innings and surrendered five runs. The Delta Devils used three pitchers in the third inning who combined for eight earned runs.
 
Alcorn saw all nine of its starters reach base at least once. It was their most lopsided win of the year.
 
The Braves will look to duplicate their performance Tuesday when they travel to Alabama for a 6 p.m. non-conference game. Alcorn will be back at home next weekend when it hosts Jackson State in a three-game series beginning Friday at 7 p.m.
 
Quoting Alcorn head coach Bretton Richardson
Opening Statement
"I'm proud of the guys. We made adjustments at the plate and put ourselves in good hitter's counts. When we got out pitch we didn't miss it today. It was a far-cry from what happened yesterday, and that's what I love about the game of baseball. No matter what happens the day before, there's an opportunity the next day to come out and hopefully correct a wrong. The guys played well today, and again I'm proud of them."
 
On hitting four home runs in the series
"Well, we're not a home run hitting team, but again, we got good hitter's counts and put good swings on our opportunities."
 
On Carlos Lopez
"He did what he's done all year for us which was one of the reasons why we decided to move him into the starting rotation. He's been so good at throwing strike one, and he's a guy who's only going to get better. The sky is the limit for him and he works his behind off. The guys love being around him and he's always going to do everything he can to try and scratch across that win for us. It's a testament to his work and the work he's put in with coach [David] Duncan. It's definitely paying off for him."
 
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