Braves Edge AAMU 4-3 in Extras

LORMAN, Miss. – After fighting back from an 0-3 hole through four and a half, the Alcorn State University baseball program earned a walk-off win over Alabama A&M 4-3 Friday night at Willie E. "Rat" McGowan Stadium.
 
Brendly Martina, who entered the game as a pinch runner in the ninth and stayed in at shortstop, started off the bottom of the 11th with a walk. The junior from Willemstad, Curacao native then moved up to second on an A.J. Makarewicz sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. Devin Walden reached on a Bulldog (10-37, 7-15 SWAC) error by the shortstop, which allowed Martina to come in for the decisive score.
 
"We battled with a lot of adversity throughout the game, but the team came together and we did it," said Walden. "Day in and day out, I try to do the best I can in my job, but it was the guys in front of me that put it together. I just grinded out that at bat, put a good swing on the ball, and something positive happened for us. It was a blessing and a great opportunity to walk off at home on a Friday, but we're not finished. We still have a way to go."
 
Der'Vincent Hamilton finished the night 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, and a run. Hunter Wilson also posted a 2-for-4 effort with an RBI in the cleanup spot. Justin Barna, named the SWAC Hitter of the Week Monday, earned his first triple of the season as he went 1-for-4 and scored a run. Makarewicz brought in the other run for the Braves (12-32, 7-15) as the Orlando, Fla. transplant batted 1-for-2 and added a walk. Wallace Rios Jimenez also went 1-for-2 at the plate and drew three bases on balls.
 
Razedrick Winters picked up his second win of the season, improving to 2-2, after tossing 2.0 innings of relief. The Jackson, Miss. product gave up one hit and struck out two of the seven batters he faced. Starter Carlos Lopez went 9.0 innings and allowed three runs, all unearned, on eight hits and a walk. The junior right hander sat down eight of the 37 Bulldogs he faced in the no decision.
 
"We didn't make the play at shortstop that allowed that third inning to continue and they scored those three runs, but it's a testament to Lopez all year," added head coach Bretton Richardson. "He's been a warrior for us and he gave us an opportunity to chip away. We were fortunate enough in the bottom of the 11th to pull out a win. Great job by those guys for not giving in and Razedrick came in and pitched a couple innings, so it was a team win tonight. I'm so proud of those guys."
 
AAMU jumped out to a 3-0 lead on three hits and an error in the top of the third. After a groundout and strike out swinging, a hit to left and a bunt single put runners on first and second. The next Bulldog reached on a Makarewicz error, bringing in the first runner, and a double to right scored another pair.
 
Alcorn produced its first run in the fifth as Jordan McGowan reached on a leadoff single up the middle. A failed pickoff attempt then allowed the sophomore to advance to third Makarewicz put the Braves on the board with a sac fly to right. The Purple and Gold added a run in the sixth as Barna hit a triple to right with one away. The senior then touched home as Hamilton struck out and was thrown out at first.
 
Needing a run, Rios Jimenez worked a full count to start the bottom of the eight. Barna then moved him up to second on a sac bunt, but the senior second baseman was thrown out at home trying to reach on a Hamilton single to center field. With two outs, Wilson delivered as the designated hitter drove a 2-1 offering to right center to knot the game at 3-3.
 
The teams will continue their East Division showdown tomorrow at 3 p.m.
 
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