Braves Drop Series Finale at MVSU, 9-5

ITTA BENA, Miss. – The Alcorn State University baseball program struck first with an early 1-0 lead, but Mississippi Valley State built a 9-2 lead through three innings en route to a 9-5 final Sunday afternoon at Magnolia Field. With the win, the Delta Devils (3-15, 3-3 SWAC) take the first conference series between the programs 2-1.
 
Hunter Wilson led the Braves (6-12, 1-5) in the loss with a 4-for-5 effort at the plate. The junior first baseman brought in two of the team's runs and added four putouts defensively. A.J. Makarewicz hit 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, a run, and a walk. Wallace Rios Jimenez and Kyle Jenkins both went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks.
 
Starter Bukhari Brown (0-4) surrendered nine runs, five of them earned, on seven hits and a pair of walks to take the loss. The junior struck out three MVSU batters and lasted 3.0 innings before Zachary Perez took over for the next 4.0. The Houston, Texas native had a strong outing as he allowed no hits and fanned five Delta Devils, to include a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth. Regynold Johnson also made an appearance, recording one punch put against the three batters he faced in the eighth.
 
Alcorn put up a run in the top of the first as Rios Jimenez drew a five-pitch walk and Justin Barna moved him up with a sacrifice bunt. Following a strikeout, Wilson pushed a hit through the right side for the RBI. The lead was short-lived, though, as MVSU responded with four runs, all with two outs, in the bottom half of the frame.
 
The leadoff hitter fouled out to first and the next batter struck out swinging before a single through the right side put a runner on first. It looked like Brown closed out the inning with another strikeout swinging, but a passed ball allowed the Delta Devil to reach first safely. The hosts would then load the bases and score a pair on a single through the right side. MVSU then juiced the bases for the second time in the inning and a single to right center made it 4-1.
 
MVSU added some insurance in the second with another three runs on two hits and as many errors. With one out and runners in scoring position, the Braves elected to get the runner out at home, but the ball came out when Jenkins went to apply the tag. A stand-up double to deep left then brought in two more and the Delta Devils held a 7-1 advantage through two.
 
In the third, Der'Vincent Hamilton hit a two-out double to left and Wilson followed with a single to center for Alcorn's second run in the game. Jenkins then made it three hits in a row with another hit to center, but the Braves couldn't do any more damage as Brendly Martina fouled out to first.
 
After another two runs in the bottom of the third made it a 9-2 lead, Brown handed off to Perez and the Alcorn defense buckled down the rest of the way. The Braves looked to storm back yet again late as they loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh. Makarewicz led off with a double to left center and Devin Walden and Rios Jimenez earned back-to-back walks. MVSU turned a double play, however, and Alcorn could only come away with a run as Makarewicz touched home.
 
Jenkins worked a full count to start the eighth and moved up on a wild pitch. With one away, Brandon Barna also drew a full-count walk and Makarewicz took a 1-2 pitch to left field to bring in Jenkins. A passed ball put Braves on second and third and Rios Jimenez singled to left to make it 9-5. Makarewicz rounded third on the hit, but the throw from MVSU's left fielder was on target and the Delta Devils ended the threat on the play at the plate.
 
Wilson hit another single to right center with two gone in the ninth. Alcorn would bring in Wilbert Malphus to run, but the hosts got the 5-3 ground out to bring the game to a close.
 
The Braves will travel to Starkville, Miss. Tuesday for a 6:30 p.m. meeting with the No. 19 Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field.
 
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