JSU Evens SWAC Series With 7-3 Final Saturday

JACKSON, Miss. – The Alcorn State University baseball program rallied from a 3-0 deficit, but Jackson State pulled away late for a 7-3 decision Saturday afternoon at Bob Braddy Field. With the win, the Tigers (27-15, 16-7 SWAC) knot the conference series at one game apiece.
 
Justin Barna led the Braves (11-31, 6-14) at the plate as the senior hit 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run. Devin Walden finished 1-for-3 with a run and a stolen base. Der'Vincent Hamilton went 1-for-4 and brought in a pair of runs while Hunter Wilson also posted a 1-for-4 effort on the day.
 
Jahborus Smith (2-9) was handed the loss after the senior surrendered six runs (four earned) on four hits and six walks. The Columbia, Miss. native pitched 6.2 innings and struck of eight of the 32 batters he faced. George Osborne III tossed 1.1 innings of relief and allowed one run on three hits and a walk.
 
JSU took an early lead as their leadoff batter in the first walked and moved up to third on an Alcorn error. After a pop out to center, the runner reached home on an infield single. The hosts then added two more in the second courtesy of a triple down the right field line and a wild pitch.
 
The Braves answered with three runs on as many hits in the top of the third. With two outs, Walden singled to third and stole second. Wallace Rios Jimenez then walked and Barna doubled to left to put the Purple and Gold on the board with runners in scoring position. A Hamilton single up the middle then evened the score at 3-3.
 
Both teams cruised through the next three innings before the hosts pulled away in the seventh. The Tigers loaded the bases with one out and were able to bring in another three runs on two hits and an error. Alcorn couldn't come up with an answer and JSU added a score in the eighth for the final tally.
 
The teams close out the series with a 1 p.m. contest tomorrow.
 
#FearTheBrave