Braves Use Hot Bats to Down MVSU 11-4 Friday

LORMAN, Miss. – Strong pitching from starter Carlos Lopez and a big offensive night for the Alcorn State University baseball program keyed an 11-4 victory over Mississippi Valley State in Game One of this weekend's Southwestern Athletic Conference series at Willie E. "Rat" McGowan Stadium.
 
"It was a total team effort tonight," said head coach Bretton Richardson. "The guys won all three phases. I was very pleased with how Carlos [Lopez] threw the ball tonight and the offense and defense backed him up. Definitely a team win."
 
Kyle Jenkins batted a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, brought in a run, walked, and scored four times. Wallace Rios Jimenez also scored four runs, had a 1-for-2 effort at the plate, and drew four walks. Justin Barna and Jordan McGowan both hit 3-for-4, and A.J. Makarewicz and Devin Walden went 3-for-5. Der'Vincent Hamilton also recorded a multi-hit performance as he batted 2-for-5 with three RBIs and a run. Barna had Alcorn's other double and Makarewicz posted a triple.
 
The Braves (9-28, 4-12 SWAC) tallied a total of 18 hits on the night, which ties the team's season high. Alcorn also totaled 18 hits in a 15-4 win at Alabama A&M on March 30.
 
Lopez improved to 3-2 on the season after holding the guests to three runs (two earned) on four hits. The junior from Barranquitas, Puerto Rico struck out nine of the 27 batters he faced. Razedrick Winters pitched two complete innings in relief and allowed one run on a pair of walks with a punch out.
 
Alcorn jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Rios Jimenez led off with a single to second and Barna walked to put runners on first and second. Hamilton singled up the middle and moved up to second on the throw home to put the Purple and Gold on the board. Hunter Wilson then made it 2-0 on a sacrifice fly to right and Jenkins singled to right for another score. The redshirt-sophomore catcher advanced to third on a McGowan single through the right side and scored on a throwing error by MVSU's right fielder.
 
The hosts scored runs in the next four innings straight to pull away. The Delta Devils (10-22, 8-8) got going in the top of the third with two runs on three hits. MVSU's Willie Johnson beat out the throw for a one-out bunt single, and then proceeded to steal second. A single and a hit by pitch loaded the bases before Aaron Barkley singled through the left side to bring in a pair.
 
MVSU plated a run in the top of the fifth to close the gap 7-3, but Alcorn answered with a run in the bottom half of the frame. The Braves brought in another run in the seventh and two more in the eighth to help put the game out of reach. The Devils scored a run in the top of the eighth, but it was too little too late.
 
In anticipation of inclement weather Saturday night, the teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. tomorrow.
 
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