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HAMMOND, La. – After a successful 2-1 start to the season over the weekend at the Andre Dawson Classic, the Alcorn State University baseball program is back in action Tuesday as the team plays a 6 p.m. contest at Southeastern Louisiana's Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
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The Braves came from behind to earn wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Friday and Prairie View A&M on Saturday, but came up just short against Grambling State Sunday night. Down 6-3 going into the top of the ninth inning, Alcorn loaded the bases and brought in a pair of runs, but the Tigers held on for the 6-5 final.
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Senior catcher Kirt Cormier was named the SWAC's Hitter of the Week on Monday after leading the Braves with a .545 batting average, 1.182 slugging percentage, and a .583 on-base percentage. In 11 at bats, he wracked up six hits with a double, a pair of home runs, four RBIs, a walk, four runs scored, 13 total bases, and had the team's lone stolen base on his one attempt. He recorded 13 putouts with three assists in 16 chances for a 1.000 fielding percentage, helping turn a double play and throwing out 1-of-2 baserunners attempting to steal. He started all three games.
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Senior Der'Vincent Hamilton is hitting .333 with four hits, a double, an RBI, three runs, and a pair of walks. Senior Justin Barna is close behind at .300 and has three hits with one RBI and two walks. Redshirt-sophomore Kyle Jenkins and junior Hunter Wilson also hit homers at the Classic.
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Jahborus Smith will likely get the start on Tuesday. The senior pitcher threw two innings of relief on Friday, allowing no hits with one walk and three strikeouts to secure the win over the Golden Lions.
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The Lions are also sporting a 2-1 record after a three-game series with Southern Illinois – Edwardsville. SELU started off with an 11-2 victory on Friday and followed with a 13-6 decision on Saturday, but fell 7-4 in the series finale. The team was an out away from the sweep and was nursing a one-run lead when shortstop Brennan Breaud bobbled a bases-loaded ground ball, allowing the visitors to tie the game at 4-4. The next batter then took an 0-1 offering to left center to clear the bases.
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Breaud is batting .500 to lead the Lions and owns six hits, a double, five RBIS, a run, and two walks through 12 at bats. The junior has a .583 slugging percentage and a .600 on-base percentage with seven total bases and a steal. Following Breaud is junior outfielder Mike Taylor with a .455 batting average and senior catcher Daniel Wasinger at .429.
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Redshirt-junior Kade Granier will get the nod for SELU for his first appearance of the season. The pitcher from Destrehan, La. was the Southland's Relief Pitcher of the Year in 2016 and earned Preseason Second Team honors in 2017.
The teams met once last season, with SELU taking an April 25 contest 21-3 in seven innings. Braves alum Jason Sanez provided Alcorn's offense with a three-run bomb to left in the first inning, his second of the season and the team's 13th. Regynold Johnson made the start and surrendered eight runs, two of them earned. Devon Key and Joe Smith came in as relief.
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The teams will play a second game this season on April 3 for another 6 p.m. contest at SELU.
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