Braves Battle, But Nicholls State Pulls Away Late

THIBODAUX, La. – After a seesaw battle through the first six-and-a-half innings, host Nicholls State used an eight-run bottom of the seventh to hand the Alcorn State University baseball program a 13-6 loss Tuesday night at Ben Myer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field.
 
Kyle Jenkins hit 2-for-4 in the loss with a homerun, an RBI, two runs, and a walk. Der'Vincent Hamilton went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, a run, and a base on balls. A.J. Makarewicz also brought in two runs with a 1-for-4 effort at the plate and Hunter Wilson had a double and scored a run as he batted 1-for-5 in the DH spot.
 
George Osborne III (0-5) took the loss after giving up nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits and seven walks in 6.0 complete innings. The freshman lefty struck out two of the 34 batters he faced. Zachary Perez allowed four runs on three hits and as many walks while Joe Smith fanned three Colonels through 2.0 innings of relief.
 
The Braves (8-23) opened the scoring in the top of the first as Wallace Rios Jimenez drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on Wilson's double down the right field line. Hamilton then singled down the left field line to plate both runners. Nicholls State would answer with a pair of its own in the bottom half of the inning. After a bunt single to second and a single through the right side put runners on the corners, the Colonels drew earned a free base to load the bases. The next batter found a hole in the left side of the Alcorn defense to put the home team on the board. The Braves turned a 4-3 double play, but another Colonel came in to knot the game at 2-2.
 
Nicholls State took its first lead in the third. The leadoff batter singled to right and stole second, and then moved up to third on another single. Jenkins was able to throw out the runner trying to steal second, but another hit through the right side allowed the runner to come in. The hosts doubled their advantage with another run in the fifth as a Nicholls State reached third on a wild pitch and touched home on a groundout to first.
 
Alcorn responded with its biggest inning of the game in the top of the sixth. Jenkins started things off with a single to third and took second on a wild pitch. Hamilton then worked a full count and Edward Jackson juiced the bases with a single that dropped in shallow center. The Colonels allowed Brandon Barna to reach on a fielder's choice as the hosts tried to get the force out at home, but the throw was dropped by the catcher. Makarewicz then delivered a single to the gap in left center to plate another pair of Braves.
 
The Colonels pulled even for the second time in the game as Osborne hit a batter with bases loaded. Alcorn was able to get the next two outs to limit the damage, but the Red and Grey pulled away for good with the big eighth inning. Jenkins would hit a two-out solo shot to left in the top of the ninth, but it wasn't enough as Nicholls State recorded the final out to secure the final.
 
The teams will close out the two-game series with another 6 p.m. contest tomorrow night.
 
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