AAMU Edges Alcorn in Tight 8-6 Opener

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A back-and-forth game just didn't end in favor of the Alcorn State University baseball program as Alabama A&M came out on top 8-6 Friday at Bulldog Field.
 
Alcorn (10-27, 6-13 SWAC) trailed 4-1 when it responded with a big four-run sixth inning to take a 5-4 advantage. Though, AAMU (11-36, 8-11 SWAC) responded with three in the bottom half and then held off the Braves in the end.
 
With two hits in the game, junior Wallace Rios Jimenez increased his league-leading on-base streak to 34. It was his team-best 13th multi-hit game of the season.
 
Senior Jason Sanez and sophomore Brandon Barna each tallied three hits in the contest. It upped both of their batting averages above .300 on the year. It was Sanez's third three-hit game and 10th multi-hit game of the season, while it was Barna's fourth three-hit contest and 12th multi-hit game.
 
Also with a big day at the plate, senior Kirt Cormier registered two hits including his third homer of the year. It was a solo shot with two outs in the first to put the Braves ahead 1-0.
 
The Bulldogs answered with two runs in the first, one in the third and another in the fifth go lead 4-1.
 
Alcorn's big sixth inning got started with a double to left-center by Sanez. He moved to third on a hit to center by senior Justin Barna. An RBI double by junior Der'Vincent Hamilton plated Sanez moved Justin Barna to third. Senior Patrick McMahon delivered a two RBI single to center to tie the game 4-4. The Braves took the lead on a fielding error at shortstop which brought home McMahon.
 
After AAMU got back ahead 7-5, Alcorn cut the deficit in half with one in the eighth. It came on an RBI by Cormier to right field which scored Brandon Barna, however Rios was thrown out at home on a controversial play trying to tie it up.
 
Junior Jahborus Smith got the start and allowed four earned runs in 5.2 innings. Sophomore Tyler Smith tossed 2.0 frames without allowing an earned run.
 
Blaime Milam threw 7.1 innings for AAMU and got the win. Brandon Marsonek entered in the ninth and struck out the side to earn the save. Carson McGregory went three-for-three at the plate with a run and five RBI.
 
The teams ended even with 15 hits apiece.
 
Alcorn turned three double plays in the game which marked a season-high.
 
Game two of the series is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, while the finale is at 1 p.m. Sunday.
 
Quoting Alcorn head coach Bretton Richardson
On the play where Rios was thrown out at home plate and ejected from the game
"The umpire felt there was a malicious attempt to run the catcher over. There has to be some sort of appeal process though because there was no malicious attempt. He slowed himself down so he wouldn't run over the catcher and I don't know what else he was supposed to do in that situation. The umpire said he was supposed to go around the catcher and give himself. Well, he did give himself up because he could have smashed the catcher. If there was a malicious attempt, he could have really done some damage but he didn't. Again, I have no idea what he was supposed to do in that situation but it was a judgment call by the umpire."
 
On his overall thoughts on the game
"Baseball games come down to three or four plays offensively or defensively. If you make those plays then you'll have a great opportunity to win the game. Today, when we got a lead, we had two routine groundballs that we couldn't convert into outs and that's one of the big reasons why we lost. As coaches, we can do everything we can to put our guys in the proper positions but when it comes down to actually making the physical play it is on them. I take responsibility though as the head coach because we have to be able to make those routine plays but we didn't make them today."
 
On Jahborus Smith
"He didn't pitch great but we still had an opportunity to win the game. This game was right there for us to win. We just didn't take advantage of the opportunities we had to score more runs, and we didn't make the plays defensively to come out on top."
 
#FearTheBrave