MACON, Ga. – The Alcorn State University baseball program dropped its non-conference series opener against Mercer 17-3 Thursday night at OrthoGeorgia Park at Claude Smith Field.
Wallace Rios Jimenez provided the offense for the Braves (12-35) as he finished 1-for-3 with a three-run homerun and a walk.
Justin Barna,
Kyle Jenkins, and
Christian Acklin also posted 1-for-3 efforts at the plate, while
Hunter Wilson went 1-for-4 with a double. Defensively, Jenkins totaled seven putouts with an assist while Barna and Acklin contributed four putouts apiece.
Starter
Carlos Lopez gave up six runs on as many hits and five walks to take the loss. The junior faced 26 batters and registered six strikeouts.
Regynold Johnson had a rough outing as the South Holland, Ill. native was tagged for 11 runs (10 earned) on seven hits and three walks. He tossed 1.1 innings in relief and sat down one of the 16 Bears (32-18) he saw.
Devon Key finished off the game, recording a pair of punch outs without giving up a hit and issuing one walk.
Mercer opened the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the first. After the leadoff batter was hit by a pitch and stole second, a single to center field put runners on the corners. The ensuing Bear drove the first pitch he saw over the wall in right for the early advantage. The hosts doubled their lead with runs in the second, third, and fifth innings.
Alcorn had an opportunity to answer in the fourth as
William Thomas reached on a fielder's choice and moved to third on Wilson's double down the right field line, but Mercer got a strikeout to keep the Braves off the board. The Black and Orange then posted six runs in the sixth and five more in the seventh.
The Purple and Gold finally got going in the eighth. With one away,
Brendly Martina worked a full count and Acklin singled through the left side to put runners on first and second. Rios Jimenez then launched a 2-1 offering to right center for the final tally.
Game two in the series is scheduled for a 6 p.m. first pitch Friday.
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