LORMAN, Miss. –  The Alcorn State University baseball program had a chance to tie or win it in the end of game two but were unable to get the job done, losing by scores of 12-3 and 3-0 against Alabama State.
The Braves (6-18, 6-16 SWAC) had a difficult tie getting the bats going all weekend, getting shutout twice and putting three runs on the board in game two.
George Osborne III put forth a career-best outing in the final game of the series, fanning a personal-high ten Hornets over 7.1 frames while allowing just two earned runs on four hits.
Tristin Garcia was the only Brave doing anything productive on offense, hitting .556 with five base knocks including three doubles, a stolen base and drove in all three of the squad's runs with one swing, clearing the bases with a three-run two-bagger in game one of the doubleheader.
Khalil Smith had a double, single and walk to account for the only other extra-base hit on the day.
Joe Smith pitched a clean 1.2 innings in game two, not allowing a single baserunner while punching out one.
Alabama State (19-17, 11-7 SWAC) pitchers whiffed 23 Braves in the doubleheader, the offense put 20 hits on the scoreboard and the defense did not commit a single error in the series.
Game one was a three-all tie heading into the top of the eighth but nine unanswered runs in the final two innings by the Hornets, seven in the ninth alone, broke the game wide open in a 12-3 defeat.
Game two was a pitching battle that was won by Alabama State's Osvaldo Mendez with a save thrown in by Britt Buckelew as the visitors from Montgomery won despite just four hits and three runs. Alcorn had its last gasp attempt fall painfully short as three consecutive two-out infield singles in the ninth loaded the bases before the winning run flew out to right field to end the ballgame.
Alcorn is seeing its all-time series lead gradually slip away as it now claims a 133-120-1 advantage over Alabama State.
The Purple and Gold will either have two home makeup contests with Mississippi Valley State or not play again until the SWAC Tournament as the decision on whether the games will be played are to be determined.
#FearTheBrave
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