Tigers Grab Middle Game of the Series

LORMAN, Miss. – After a slow start by both teams, Jackson State plated three runs in the fifth inning and added insurance runs in the sixth and eighth as the Alcorn State University baseball program dropped a 9-2 decision to the Tigers (16-6, 8-3 SWAC) Saturday afternoon at Willie E. "Rat" McGowan Stadium. With today's final, JSU wins the three-game series.
 
Nicholas Hayes-Saltare hit 2-for-4 and scored a run and Der'Vincent Hamilton also went 2-for-4 to lead the Braves (6-16, 1-7) at the plate. Edward Jackon batted 1-for-4 with a double and a run, and Justin Barna and Hunter Wilson also posted 1-for-4 efforts at the plate.
 
Jahborus Smith (2-3) pitched 5.1 innings, allowing seven runs (three earned) on 10 hits and a walk. The senior out of Columbia, Miss. faced 29 batters in 25 at bats and struck out seven. Tyler Smith threw the other 3.2 innings and gave up a pair of runs (one earned) on four hits with a pair of punch outs.
 
It was a pitcher's duel in the first half of the game as both starters put zeros on the scoreboard through the first four innings. JSU put runners in scoring position in the first, third, and fourth, but each time J. Smith recorded a strikeout to end the threat.
 
The visitors finally opened the scoring with a three-run fifth. The Tigers' leadoff hitter doubled down the right field line, but Smith caught him sleeping at second for the pickoff. After a lineout to Hayes-Saltare, a single to the gap in left and consecutive wild pitches moved the runner up to third. The Braves had an opportunity to get out of the inning on what would have been a fly out to right, but a fielding error allowed the runner to cross the plate for the 1-0 lead. JSU then hit three singles to bring in another pair.
 
JSU had another big inning in the sixth with five runs on three hits and two errors. The first two Tigers reached on an error and a single, and then moved up on a wild pitch. It looked like the guests would get a free run on another J. Smith miscue, but Alcorn got the runner out in a play at the plate. The good fortune was short-lived, though, as J. Smith hit the next two batters and a double down the left field line cleared the bases. After T. Smith took over on the mound, a throwing error allowed two more to touch home for an 8-0 Tiger lead.
 
After another run in the top of the eighth made in 9-0, Alcorn got going with two runs on as many hits. Hayes-Saltare took his first offering for a leadoff single to third and Jackson followed with a double down the left field line to put runners on second and third. A Jordan McGowan ground out to short allowed Hayes-Saltare to come in for the Braves' first run. Wallace Rios Jimenez then hit a fly out deep enough to right for the sacrifice and the second run.
 
Hamilton reached on a one-out single to short in the bottom of the ninth. Two batters later, Hayes-Saltare reached on an error, but JSU induced a fly out to center to bring the contest to a close.
 
The teams wrap up the conference series with a 1 p.m. meeting tomorrow.
 
#FearTheBrave