GSU Jumps on Alcorn Early in Series Opener

GRAMBLING, La. – Grambling State built an early lead with eight runs in the bottom of the first and the Alcorn State University baseball program dropped the first of a two-game non-conference series with the Tigers (9-8, 4-2 SWAC) 12-5 Tuesday night at Wilbert Ellis Field.
 
Kyle Jenkins finished 2-for-3 with two doubles, a walk, and a pair of RBIs to lead the Braves (5-9, 0-3) at the plate. Justin Barna went 2-for-5 and scored a pair of runs, while Hunter Wilson hit 1-for-5 with a base on balls and two RBIs. Wallace Rios Jimenez brought in Alcorn's other run as he walked twice and earned an RBI as he reached on a fielder's choice.
 
Defensively, J. Barna and Wilson both had five putouts, while Rios Jimenez contributed four with two assists. Tyler Smith (1-1) was handed the loss after he was chased out of the game with just one out. GSU scored eight runs on the lefty pitcher on five hits, a double, three walks, and a wild pitch. Alcorn used a number of relief pitchers, starting with Razedrick Winters who took over for 3.2 innings. Joe Smith, Zachary Perez, and Brandon Thomas also made appearances.
 
"We've got a lot of work to do between tonight and tomorrow," said head coach Bretton Richardson. "The difference tonight between our club and theirs was they struck out only twice and we struck out 12 times. We have to put the ball in play, especially when we're in situations where we've got a runner on third base with less than two outs. We have to give ourselves chances to score runs and right now we're not doing that. Tomorrow we should come out with a better attitude and a better focus and hopefully we'll play better."
 
The Tigers controlled the game from the start as the hosts brought in eight runs in the first. After the leadoff runner walked and stole second and the next batter worked a full count, a single up the middle loaded the bases. A double to left center then plated two to open the scoring. A wild pitch and a single then made it 4-0 before the Smith induced a fly out. GSU would load the bases again to force Alcorn to switch to Winters, and back-to-back singles pushed the home team's advantage to 8-0.
 
After GSU added a run in the third, Alcorn's offense got going with two in the fourth. Rios Jimenez drew a leadoff walk and J. Barna followed with a single to left. After Jimenez stole third and Barna moved up, Wilson singled to bring in Jimenez and Barna touched home on a fielding error by the GSU center fielder. Jenkins doubled with one away to put two Braves in scoring position, but starting pitcher Christian Marquez got a pair of punch outs to limit the damage.
 
The Tigers responded with another run in the bottom half of the frame, but the Braves scored another three in the fifth to cut the lead in half 10-5. Devin Walden started off by reaching on a fielding error by GSU's third baseman. A.J. Makarewicz then singled through the right side, allowing Walden to stretch for third. The senior outfielder then scored as Rios Jimenez hit into a fielder's choice at second. A J. Barna single and a Der'Vincent Hamilton walk on a full count juiced the bases with one away. A Wilson fly out to center wasn't deep enough to bring in Jimenez, but Jenkins doubled to left field for another pair of Alcorn runs.
 
Alcorn's defense shined in the bottom of the fifth. After J. Smith came in to pitch and walked a pair of Tigers, the next batter lined out to Walden in right field. Walden then fired to Jimenez at second and the senior threw to Wilson at first for the 9-4-3 triple play.
 
The Braves put a runner on third in the seventh and again in the eighth, but were unable to bring them in. The Tigers added runs in the sixth and seventh for the final tally.
 
Alcorn and Grambling will square off again tomorrow in another 6 p.m. affair.
 
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