Braves Look to Split Non-Conference Series at SLU Tuesday
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Braves Look to Split Non-Conference Series at SLU Tuesday

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HAMMOND, La. – After a 2-1 conference series win at Alabama A&M last weekend, the Alcorn State University baseball program continues its road swing with a 6 p.m. non-conference game against Southeastern Louisiana at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

 

Tuesday's game marks the second meeting between Alcorn and SLU this season. The Lions (21-10, 9-3 Southland) jumped ahead with three runs in the second inning and two in the third en route to a 7-1 win on Feb. 20.

 

The Braves (8-18, 3-9 SWAC) withstood a late surge by Alabama A&M to win the conference series finale 5-4 at Bulldog Field Last Saturday behind strong pitching from Bukhari Brown. The junior held the hosts to just one run through eight innings.

 

Kyle Jenkins finished 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a run, and a base on balls. Christian Acklin also went 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Hunter Wilson batted 2-for-5 in the DH spot. Der'Vincent Hamilton had a 1-for-3 effort at the plate with a run and a pair of RBIs. The senior from Baton Rouge, La. drove his lone hit over the left field wall to open the scoring. Nicholas Hayes-Saltare doubled in his lone plate appearance.

 

Brown (1-4) grabbed his first win of the season as he held AAMU to four runs (three earned) on nine hits and three walks with one strikeout in 8.0 innings of work. Razedrick Winters pitched the ninth, walking a pair before securing the save.

 

Hayes-Saltare leads Alcorn at the plate this season with a .324 batting average. Following him are Wilson at .293 and Justin Barna at .292. Wilson owns a team-high 27 hits and 23 RBIs. Devin Walden has stolen seven bases and Jenkins has eight extra-base hits. In the field, Jenkins has recorded 138 putouts with 13 assists and four errors for a .974 fielding percentage. Wilson adds 105 putouts with eight assists and two errors (.983 percent).

 

Joe Smith (1-0) has thrown 10.0 innings in six appearances for a 4.50 ERA. Carlos Lopez (2-1) leads the team with 45 strikeouts and is at a 4.89 ERA. Jahborus Smith (2-4) has thrown 30.2 innings in six starts and seven appearances for a 6.46 ERA. Winters (0-2) owns three saves and a 6.38 ERA in 18.1 innings of relief.

 

SLU took 2-of-3 at McNeese State last week to win the conference series. The Lions have three players hitting above .300: Cody Grosse at .331, Mike Taylor at .319, and Drew Avans at .317. Grosse has a team-high 42 hits and 31 runs scored and Kyle Schimpf owns 28 RBIs. Grosse and Avans both have 14 stolen bases. In the field, Schimpf is at 160 putouts with 16 assists and three errors (.983) and Daniel Wasinger adds 132 putouts with 15 assists and one error (.993).

 

Peyton Lee (1-0) leads the SLU bullpen with a team-best 0.63 ERA in 14.1 innings and seven appearances. Will Warren (0-0) has pitched 11.2 innings of relief with a 1.54 ERA, and Carlisle Koestler (5-1) owns a 2.23 ERA through 40.1 innings in six starts and eight appearances. Alcorn will likely face Mason Knopp (2-1), who has tossed 35.0 innings across six starts for a 3.09 ERA.

 

Alcorn is in search of its first win over the Lions during Coach Bretton Richardson's tenure. SLU took both meetings during the 2016 season and won an April 25 contest last year.

 

#FearTheBrave

 

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