Braves Split Series at FAMU with 7-2 Win Sunday

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – After a delayed start and an hour-long rain delay in the bottom of the first, the Alcorn State University baseball program earned a 7-2 win over Florida A&M Sunday at Moore-Kittles Field to split the four-game series with the Rattlers (4-5).
 
Freshman Edward Jackson went 1-for-3 with a homerun, an RBI, and a run in the DH spot. The Greenville, Miss. native also added a stolen base to his totals. Junior Brendly Martina, the bottom of the order, had the team's other homer as he also hit 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run. Redshirt-sophomore Kyle Jenkins batted 1-for-2 with an RBI, a run, and a walk. Senior Der'Vincent Hamilton finished 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run, and senior A.J. Makarewicz hit 1-for-3 with a run, a hit-by-pitch, and a steal.
 
Senior Jahborus Smith (1-1) picked up his first win of the season with 5.0 innings of work. He allowed two earned runs on a hit and six walks while retiring four batters. Senior Razedrick Winters took over in the bottom of the 6th, giving up a pair of hits and walk with a strikeout.
 
"We would have loved to win the series, but the next best thing was a split," said head coach Bretton Richardson. "I thought we played we except for the doubleheader on Saturday. In both games that we won, we pitched well and got timely hits. Overall, I was pleased with how we played."
 
The Braves (4-4) opened with two runs in the top of the first. With one out, Makarewicz walked and stole second. Hamilton then singled through the left side to plate the first run and reached second on a fielding error by the FAMU third baseman. After the Rattlers recorded the second out, Jenkins also singled through the left side, putting Alcorn in control 2-0 early.
 
FAMU answered with two in the bottom half of the inning. Jordan Curtis was hit by a pitch and Dallas Oliver walked after a fly out to left. With the rain picking up, the field had to be tarped as the teams waited for an hour for the weather to clear. Returning to action, the hosts then pulled a double-steal and Brian Davis singled to right to knot the score at 2-2.
 
Both sides settled down for three scoreless innings, but Alcorn jumped ahead in the top of the fifth with two more. With one down, Jackson put the Braves back in the driver's seat as he homered down the left-field line. Martina then followed with a shot to left field. The Purple and Gold extended their lead with another three in the sixth, all with two outs. After Jenkins drew a walk, junior Brandon Barna singled through the left side to force a FAMU pitching change. Redshirt-senior Wilbert Malphus walked to load the bases. Jackson reached on an error by the shortstop, allowing two runs to score. Malphus then came in as Jackson stole second.
 
Winters entered the game in the bottom of the sixth and gave up a one-out single to left. The Rattler baserunner stole second and took third on a balk, but the Jackson, Miss. native settled down with a punch out and fly out to second. FAMU put runners on first and second in the bottom of the seventh, but back-to-back fly outs and a groundout brought the game to a close.
 
Alcorn has Monday off before making the trip down to Baton Rouge, La. on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. non-conference meeting with Southern at Pete Goldsby Field. The team then opens SWAC play with a three-game series at Alabama State next weekend.
 
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