SWAC Tournament Central
NEW ORLEANS – Senior
Daniel Belmont threw all nine innings for the Alcorn State University baseball program, but Alabama State was able to scratch out a 6-1 decision Thursday in the second round of the 2017 SWAC Championships at Wesley Barrow Stadium.
It marked the second complete-game by an Alcorn (12-32, 7-17 SWAC) pitcher this season, and the first by Belmont. He threw 142 pitches (93 strikes) and struck out nine batters.
The game was much closer than the final score indicated as Alabama State (30-24, 18-6 SWAC), the No. 2 seed from the East Division, scored three runs in the ninth inning to pull away. The game was tied 1-1 heading into the sixth inning.
Alcorn, the No. 4 seed from the East Division, scored its lone run came in the third frame. Senior
Justin Barna started it off with a single up the middle and scored on an RBI double down the left field line by senior
Patrick McMahon.
Junior
Wallace Rios Jimenez, an All-Conference First-Team selection, extended his league-leading on-base streak to 39 games with a walk in the fifth inning. It also increased his on-base streak to 40 games including the finale from last year.
Junior
Der'Vincent Hamilton notched two hits in the contest. It was his 10th multi-hit game of the year.
The Hornets saw Austin Bizzle improve his record to 7-0 by tossing a complete-game. He struck out 10. Eriq White went three-for-four with two runs batted in and a run scored at the plate.
Alcorn will be back in action Friday at noon when it faces the No. 3 seed from the West Division Prairie View A&M in an elimination game. With a win, the Braves would play again at 6 p.m. Friday in a rematch with Alabama State. The game(s) can be heard on WPRL 91.7 FM with Charles Edmond on the call.
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