Alabama State Takes Delayed Series Opener

LORMAN, Miss. – After lightning disrupted play Friday evening, Game One in this weekend's Southwestern Conference series resumed Saturday afternoon as the Alcorn State University baseball program fell to Alabama State 6-5 in 11 innings at Willie E. "Rat" McGowan Stadium.
 
The Braves (8-20, 3-10 SWAC) opened the scoring Friday in the bottom of the first. Wallace Rios Jimenez led off with a single to center field and Justin Barna followed with a single down the left-field line. The pair then moved up on a passed ball to put runners in scoring position. After the Hornets (15-13, 9-4) retired Kyle Jenkins for the first out, Hunter Wilson put Alcorn on the board with a sacrifice fly to left.
 
Alabama State responded with a run in the second. A one-out walk and a double to right center put runners on the corners. The visitors then hit a sac fly of their own to pull even and would go up 2-1 with another score in the third. With the leadoff hitter hit by a pitch, a double down the left-field line again put runners on second and third. The Braves got the lead runner out at home on a fielder's choice and Carlos Lopez fanned the next batter for the second out, but Alcorn's starter was then called for a balk.
 
Alcorn knotted the game 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Jenkins led off with a single through the left side and Der'Vincent Hamilton worked a full count with one away. A Jordan McGowan ground out moved up both runners and Brendly Martina beat out the throw from third for the single and RBI. The weather refused to cooperate, however, and the teams agreed to resume play in the bottom of the sixth Saturday after a near 20-hour delay.
 
The Braves looked fresh on day two as they built a 5-2 advantage. Martina started off the bottom half of the seventh with a single to center and a stolen base. Brandon Barna then drew a walk and A.J. Makarewicz dropped a sac bunt to move up the pair. A Rios Jimenez groundout to second plated Martina, and J. Barna singled through the right side to score his brother.
 
Alcorn added another mark in the next inning. Wilson reached on a one-out single and Christian Acklin came in to run for him. Hamilton then found a hole in the left side of the defense and McGowan got a hit to fall in shallow center. The Hornets refused to go away, though. A pair of doubles made it a 5-3 game before Jahborus Smith recorded a strikeout looking for out number two. The Braves looked to end the game on a routine ground out to short, but Martina could not field the ball cleanly and the batter reached on the error. A single through the right side then brought in both Hornets for the 5-5 tie.
 
The Purple and Gold had another opportunity to win the game in the 10th as they loaded the bases with one out. Acklin dropped a one-out bunt towards first and moved up on a wild pitch. Hamilton was then intentionally walked and McGowan juiced the bags as he reached on an error by the pitcher. Alcorn was unable to take advantage, however, as Alabama State retired the next two Braves.
 
The guests got the deciding run across the plate in the 11th. A walk and a sac bunt put a Hornet in scoring position, and consecutive wild pitches allowed him to touch home. Alcorn could not find an answer as the visitors retired the Braves in order to conclude the contest.
 
Wilson hit 2-for-3 with an RBI in the DH spot and Martina went 2-for-5, scored a run, and brought one in to lead Alcorn offensively. J. Barna also had a multi-hit game with a 2-for-6 effort at the plate and an RBI. Hamilton finished 1-for-3 and earned a couple of bases on balls.
 
Smith (2-6) took the loss after giving up four runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks in 5.0 innings of work. The senior out of Columbia, Miss. faced 20 batters, striking out eight. Lopez allowed a pair of runs on as many hits and walks. He retired seven of the 24 Hornets he faced.
 
The teams will wrap up the series with a doubleheader Sunday. The first game is scheduled for an 11 a.m. start.
 
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