LORMAN, Miss. – Jamil Betancourt played three positions, including pitcher, and recorded three hits during the doubleheader against Texas Southern to open conference play. Still, it was not enough to get the Alcorn State baseball team its first season victory. The Braves fall to 0-13 overall and 0-2 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, while the Tigers improve to 10-7 and 2-0 in the league.
Alcorn State will look to prevent the sweep, hosting TSU on Sunday in the final game of the three-game series. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
The Braves suffered their most devastating loss in program history at the hand of the Tigers in game one. Alcorn fell 32-1 after a positive first inning start.
In the frame, starting pitcher Andrew Meadows faced and sent back three batters to the dugouts with one strikeout for an easy three up and three down inning. The Braves had a promising at-bat in the bottom of one, with Diego Lopez-Molina leading off with a single up the middle, followed by another single from Betancourt. Unfortunately, the next at-bat resulted in a double play, and a fly out to left field ended the side.
Alcorn was unable to duplicate the success of the first inning in the second as Texas Southern scored the bulk of its runs in the frame. The Tiger brought in 14 runners on eight hits and an error. After a double, a single, and a walk loaded the bases with only one out, Texas Southern cycled through 13 batters before the final two outs were recorded.
Texas Southern added the 15th run in the top of the third with a runner coming home on an error by the Braves catcher.
Alcorn broke its scoring silence in the fourth frame. Khalil Smith led off with a double to left field and advanced to third on a ground out. Smith then scored the Braves on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Garrett Palladino.
TSU closed out game one with two packed frames, scoring five runs in the sixth and 12 in the seventh for a final score of 32-1.
Meadows (0-4) received the pitching loss with five other Braves, including Betancourt, spending time on the mound. Betancourt also led Alcorn at the plate with a 3-for-4 appearance.
The Braves performed better in the day's second game, holding Texas Southern to a 12-1 victory. TSU struck first, scoring two runs in the opening frame on a single and a double.
Alcorn answered in the bottom of the inning with DJ Lewis coming home on a single from Lopez-Molina.
The Tigers advanced their lead to 3-1 in the third on a single run homer but finished the game with three runs in the fifth, five in the sixth, and one run in the seven for the win.
Jermel Ford (0-4) pitched 4.1 innings for the loss with five hits against, six earned runs, six walks, and four strikeouts. Lopez-Molina recorded the Braves' only hit and had one RBI.
For the latest on Alcorn State baseball, check AlcornSports.com for the latest news and scheduling information, or follow the Braves through Twitter (@BravesSports), Facebook (Alcorn State Sports), and Instagram (@AlcornSports).
