Late Production Allows Mercer to Take Game Two

MACON, Ga. – The Alcorn State University baseball program fought back from an 0-2 hole with a three-run fourth inning, but Mercer retook the lead and used a big eighth inning to win Game Two in the series 10-3 Friday night at OrthoGeorgia Park at Claude Smith Field.
 
With the loss, the Braves fall to 12-36 on the season while the Bears improve to 33-18.
 
A.J. Makarewicz batted 1-for-4 with a solo homerun. Brendly Martina hit 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, and an RBI. Christian Acklin also recorded an extra-base hit as he went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. Jordan McGowan and Kyle Jenkins also posted 1-for-3 efforts at the plate, while Brandon Barna had Alcorn's other hit as he went 1-for-4.
 
Columbia, Miss. native Jahborus Smith (2-11) was handed the loss after giving up four runs on as many hits and three walks through 5.0 innings of work. The senior retired two of the 26 batters he faced. Tyler Smith pitched 2.2 innings in relief, while Brandon Thomas also made an appearance.
 
Mercer built an early lead with a run in the second and another in the third. After a leadoff walk and a single through the left side put runners on the corners, the Bears opened the scoring as the batter reached on an Alcorn fielding error. The hosts struck again as the leadoff Bear homered to right field.
 
The Braves responded and took their only lead in the game with three runs in the fourth. Makarewicz started off with a shot to right center and Jenkins followed with a single up the middle. The redshirt-sophomore catcher advanced to second on a wild pitch and tied the game as he touched home on a McGowan single through the left side of the defense. McGowan would also move up on a wild pitch and came in on Martina's double down the left field line.
 
Alcorn's advantage was short-lived, however, as the Black and Orange worked a one-out walk and doubled down the left field line to pull even at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth. Mercer went back ahead 4-3 in the fifth thanks to a leadoff double to right and a single to right. The Braves had an opportunity to tie the game again in the seventh when Acklin hit a one-out double to left center and moved to third on a ground out to first, but the hosts escaped the inning on a foul out. Mercer then broke open the game with six runs on four hits and an error in the eighth for the final tally.
 
The teams will play an 8 p.m. series finale tomorrow.
 
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