AAMU Spoils Senior Day, Wins SWAC Series 2-1

LORMAN, Miss. – Alabama A&M took the final game of this weekend's SWAC series 12-7 to spoil Senior Day for the Alcorn State University baseball program Sunday at Willie E. "Rat" McGowan Stadium.
 
The Braves (12-34, 7-17 SWAC) recognized their 2018 class of seniors before the start of the game. Players were presented with a plaque and took pictures with their family members.
 
Several seniors had big days at the plate. A.J. Makarewicz posted a 3-for-4 effort with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored. Justin Barna finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and a pair of runs and Devin Walden went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run. Der'Vincent Hamilton hit 1-for-4 with a run and Wallace Rios Jimenez also batted 1-for-4 with a walk. Redshirt-sophomore Kyle Jenkins hit 3-for-4 and junior Brendly Martina also had a multi-hit performance as he went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
 
Bukhari Brown (1-7) took the loss after allowing seven runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks. He struck out two of the 21 batters he faced in 4.0 innings. George Osborne III pitched the other 5.0 innings in relief and gave up five runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk with three punch outs.
 
The Bulldogs (12-37, 9-15) got off to a fast start with three runs to start the game. After back-to-back hits to lead off the top of the first, both runners advanced on a wild pitch. The visitors then drew a walk to juice the bases and opened the scoring with a two-RBI single to right. With runners in scoring position, the next Bulldog fouled out to right, but a throwing error let another run come in.
 
Alcorn got its offense going in the fourth with one run on three hits and an error, all with two outs. McGowan hit a ground-rule double to left center and Makarewicz brought him in with a single to left. The Orlando, Fla. native reached second on the play courtesy of an error by the AAMU left fielder and took third on a Jenkins single to third, but the Braves couldn't do any more damage as the Bulldogs got the next two outs to get out of the inning.
 
AAMU added to its lead in the top of the fifth with seven runs on five hits and a pair of errors. The Braves were able to get four runs back in the bottom half of the frame. Walden singled to third and moved up on an error on the throw to first. Rios Jimenez then singled to right but was thrown out as he tried to stretch for a double. Barna brought in Walden from third with a hit to left, Hamilton was hit by a pitch, and Hunter Wilson doubled to right for another Alcorn score. McGowan plated Hamilton on a single to short and Wilson touched home as Makarewicz reached on a fielder's choice.
 
The Braves pulled to within 10-6 with a run in the eighth, but the Maroon and White answered with two more in the ninth. Down to its last three outs, Alcorn got its first two batters on the corners as Barna singled through the left side and Hamilton found a hole in the right side of the defense. AAMU snuffed out any hope of a comeback though as they turned a double play. Barna would come in, but the visitors induced a ground out to take the series 2-1.
 
Alcorn will finish its regular season on the road as they play three games at Mercer Thursday through Saturday. All three games will be played at 6 p.m. at OrthoGeorgia Park.
 
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