TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alcorn State University baseball program held the University of Alabama scoreless through three innings, but the Crimson Tide (22-17) earned a 3-0 decision Wednesday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
The Braves (8-28) had two hits in the contest as
Devin Walden went 1-for-2 and
A.J. Makarewicz finished 1-for-3.
Wallace Rios Jimenez reached on a pair of walks, while
Der'Vincent Hamilton and
Christian Acklin had one each. Hamilton also swiped a base.
Justin Barna led the defense with 10 putouts and Acklin added five. Makarewicz contributed two with four assists.
George Osborne III (0-6) picked up the loss after surrendering three runs (two earned) on a pair of hits and three walks in 5.0 innings of relief. The freshman lefty struck out a pair of the 21 batters he faced. Starter
Jahborus Smith held the hosts scoreless and gave up one hit with a punch out through two complete innings.
Regynold Johnson pitched the eighth and retired one of the three batters he saw.
Alcorn looked like it would strike first in the top of the first as Hamilton walked with two outs. The senior from Baton Rouge, La. then advanced to second on a balk and moved to third as
Hunter Wilson reached on a fielding error by Alabama's shortstop. The Crimson and White escaped, however, as
Kyle Jenkins fouled out to the catcher.
Hamilton was hit by a pitch to start the fourth and proceeded to steal second following a Wilson fly out to right. After Alabama's catcher caught another foul ball for out number two,
Edward Jackson drove an 0-1 offering to deep left. The freshman third baseman was just short of putting the Braves on the board as the left-fielder made the catch at the wall.
The Tide got going in the fourth after a leadoff base on balls and a double to the gap in left center. The base runner took third on a fly out to right, and then touched home for the 2-0 advantage on a sacrifice fly to straight center. The Purple and Gold loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth, but the hosts turned a double play to get out of the jam.
Alabama added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. With one away, the Tide batter singled to left and reached second on a wild pitch. As the next batter worked a full count, Jenkins looked to throw out the runner trying to steal third, but Jackson couldn't make the catch and the ball got away down the left-field line.
Alcorn is back home this weekend as the team hosts Mississippi Valley State in a three-game conference series at Willie E. "Rat" McGowan Stadium. Game one is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start on Friday.
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