Big Second Inning Propels Braves Past FAMU, 8-5

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Alcorn State University baseball program jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, courtesy of a five-run second inning, and took game one of a four-game series at Florida A&M 8-5 Friday at Moore-Kittles Field.
 
The game marked Alcorn head coach Bretton Richardson's return to his alma mater and first game against the Rattlers (2-4) since coming to Lorman, Miss.
 
"It was a good team win," said Richardson. "The pitchers threw strikes and we got the timely hits when we needed them."
 
Hunter Wilson had a big game for the Braves, who improve to 3-2. The junior out of Star, Miss. went 2-for-4 with a double and a sacrifice fly to lead the team with five RBIs. Senior Wallace Rios Jimenez hit 1-for-4 with a pair of walks, two RBIs, and a run. Redshirt-sophomore Kyle Jenkins brought in the other run and finished 1-for-5. The Jacksonville, Fla. native led the team defensively with 13 putouts and an assist.
 
Carlos Lopez (1-0) earned the win after allowing three earned runs on six hits and four walks through 5.0 innings. He recorded 10 strikeouts in his second start this season. Zachary Perez came in for 3.0 innings of relief, surrendering two runs on four hits and a walk with two punch outs. Razedrick Winters tossed the final inning, giving up one hit and striking out a batter to pick up the save, his second in as many outings.
 
Rios Jimenez drew a walk to start the game and moved to second on an A.J. Makarewicz single through the left side. Der'Vincent Hamilton then laid down a sac bunt to advance the pair. Wilson skied one out to left and it was deep enough for Rios Jimenez to tag up.
 
Alcorn broke open the game with another five runs in the second. With one out, Justin Barna singled up the middle and proceeded to steal second. Nicholas Hayes-Saltare had an infield hit to third and beat out the throw as the Braves put runners on the corners. Brendly Martina then walked to load the bases and Rios Jimenez brought in a pair with a single up the middle. The Bayamon, Puerto Rico product was caught trying to steal second, but Alcorn loaded the bases for the second time in the inning as Makarewicz got a base on balls and Hamilton was hit by a pitch. Wilson then cleared the bases with a double to left.
 
FAMU cut the lead in half with three runs on three hits, a double, and a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth. Alcorn would respond with another two in the sixth. After the hosts made a pitching change, Makarewicz and Hamilton walked to lead off. Wilson then singled to right, forcing the Rattlers to go to their bullpen again. Jenkins welcomed the new pitcher with a single to center, making it an 8-3 advantage. FAMU would match the effort in the bottom half of the frame, but both defenses settled down over the final three innings.
 
The teams return for doubleheader action tomorrow. Game two in the series will start at noon, with game three to follow.
 
"George Osborne III is going to start the first game and Bukhari Brown will pitch second," added Richardson.
 
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