HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – After the Alcorn State University baseball program secured a dominant 15-4 victory in Game One, Alabama A&M controlled Game Two to split the conference doubleheader Friday at Bulldog Field.
Jordan McGowan had a great day at the plate, finishing 4-for-7 with three RBIs and as many runs scored to lead the Braves (7-18, 2-9 SWAC).
Nicholas Hayes-Saltare went 3-for-6 with two triples, three RBIs, two walks, and three runs.
Der'Vincent Hamilton also hit 3-for-6 with a double, three walks, an RBI, and three runs.
Devin Walden batted 3-for-6 with three RBIs, and
Edward Jackson had a 2-for-7 effort with a double, a walk, an RBI, and three runs.
Carlos Lopez (2-1) earned his second win of the season after holding AAMU to four runs (three earned) on eight hits and a walk in 5.0 innings of work to start the first game. The junior from Barranquitas, Puerto Rico struck out seven Bulldogs (7-20, 4-7) as Alcorn built a 7-4 lead.
Jahborus Smith (2-4) was handed the Game Two loss as he allowed nine runs (eight earned) on 11 hits and two walks with a pair of punch outs through 3.1 innings.
Zachary Perez pitched the final 3.0 innings in the first game and
Tyler Smith threw 3.1 innings in the second.
After Alabama A&M took an early 2-0 lead in Game One with runs in the first and third innings, Alcorn took over with a five-run fourth.
Kyle Jenkins drew a leadoff walk and
Hunter Wilson put the Purple and Gold on the board with a double to right center. The Star, Miss. native moved up to third on a ground out and reached home on a
Brandon Barna single through the left side. Hayes-Saltare reached on a fielder's choice for the second out and Jackson put runners in scoring position with a double to left center.
McGowan then gave the Braves their first lead with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error by the AAMU shortstop.
Wallace Rios Jimenez then singled up the middle and stole second, and
Justin Barna continued the damage with a single through the right side to score two more.
The Bulldogs plated two runs in the bottom half of the frame to close the gap 5-4, but Alcorn scored in the next four innings straight. The Braves put the game away with a three-run seventh and another five runs in the eighth. AAMU hit a two-out triple in the bottom of the eighth, but Perez induced a fly out to center to seal the 15-4 win.
Game Two was all AAMU as the hosts broke open the game with three runs in the first. After the first two Bulldogs reached on a base on balls and a fielding error, AAMU scored its first run on a single through the left side and an error in left field. Another hit through the left side made it 2-0 before the Braves turned a 6-4-3 double play. The Bulldogs still had a runner on third, though, and another single put the hosts up 3-0 early.
Alcorn couldn't get anything going offensively and AAMU chased J. Smith out of the game with a six-run bottom of the fourth. The Bulldogs hit three doubles, a triple, and a pair of homeruns in the inning to put the second game out of reach. Alcorn finally posted a run in the sixth as Jenkins walked and came in on a Hamilton double to left center, but AAMU added runs in the sixth and seventh for the 11-1 final.
The Braves will look to win their first conference series in tomorrow's 12 p.m. finale.
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