GSU Pulls Away Late in Non-Conference Affair

LORMAN, Miss. – The Alcorn State University baseball program led 2-1 heading into the sixth inning when Grambling State put together a pair of long frames to grab a 15-2 result Tuesday night in a non-conference game at Willie E. "Rat" McGowan Stadium.
 
Der'Vincent Hamilton brought in both of Alcorn's runs as the senior outfielder hit 2-for-3 with a double. Justin Barna finished 1-for-1 and scored a run while Wallace Rios Jimenez went 0-2 with a walk and scored the other run. Brendly Martina also earned a base on balls. Defensively, Kyle Jenkins had 10 putouts.
 
Brandon Thomas (0-1) took the loss as the visitors tagged the Chicago, Ill. native for eight runs on four hits and as many walks. The junior faced 13 batters in 1.1 innings and struck out a pair. Starter Tyler Smith tossed 4.0 innings and left the game with Alcorn in control 2-1. He gave up the one run on one hit and allowed a pair of free bases while retiring four. Joe Smith pitched the other 1.2 innings as the visitors brought in another six runs on four hits and five walks. The junior recorded three punch outs against 14 batters.
 
The Braves (10-30) opened the scoring in their first trip to the plate as Barna was hit by a pitch and stole second. The Gulfport, Miss. product then came around as Hamilton drove a 3-2 pitch through a hole in the left side of the defense for a single. Alcorn then added another run in the third as Rios Jimenez drew a leadoff walk and moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Barna. Hamilton delivered again as he took the first pitch he saw all the way to the wall in right center for a standup double.
 
T. Smith struggled early as he walked the first two Tigers (22-19) in the top of the first. He was able to catch the leadoff runner attempting to steal third, though, and would get out of the inning with a strikeout swinging and a fielder's choice out at second. The Vicksburg, Miss. native cruised through the next two innings before GSU's Rafael Ramirez, III homered to right center to put the Black and Gold on the board.
 
Grambling took over in the sixth with 10 runs on five hits, including another homer by Ramirez, this time with the bases juiced. The Tigers then plated another four runs on three hits and an error in the top of the seventh for the final tally.
 
Alcorn hits the road this weekend as the Braves play a three-game conference series at Jackson State. Game one is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start Friday at Bob Braddy Field.
 
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