PINE BLUFF, Ark. – The Braves Baseball team collects its second victory of the season, splitting a twin bill at the University of Arkansas – Pine Bluff on Friday. Alcorn State dropped the first game 23-2 but picked up the second game 13-10. The Braves improve to 2-23 overall and 2-12 in conference play. UAPB is now 7-21-1 and 4-8 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
GAME ONE (L, 23-2)
Alcorn State got off to a rough start against the Golden Lions Friday afternoon. Offensively, the Braves scored two runs on seven hits with three errors.
Khalil Smith and Jamil Betancourt led Alcorn at the plate with 2-for-4 appearances and one run each. Betancourt also saw one RBI.
The Braves cycle through five pitchers on the mound, but starting pitcher Payton Baylis (0-1) was credited with the loss. The freshman from Monticello, Miss., threw for 2.0 innings with six hits against, six runs (five earned), and three walks.
UAPB connected for 17 hits to score 23 runs with two errors. Four Golden Lions batters had two hits, three had three ribbies, and Karsten Vasquez had three runs. Trenton Ferguson (2-4) earned the pitching win. He occupied the mound for the entire 7-inning game for seven hits against, two runs (one earned), one walk, and three strikeouts.
The Braves scored the first two runs of the contest in the top of the first inning. Betancourt singled to centerfield and advanced to second base on a throwing error by the centerfielder. Smith scored a run on the play. Betancourt then scored on a single to left field by Diego Lopez-Molina to give Alcorn a 2-0 advantage going into the bottom of the first inning.
The Braves remained scoreless for the remainder of the game as UAPB picked up two runs in the first, four in the second, seven in the third, five in the fourth, and five in the sixth.
GAME TWO (W, 13-10)
The Braves were much more successful in the second outing, defeating Arkansas – Pine Bluff 13-10 for their second season victory. Alcorn started strong with a 9-0 lead going into the fourth frame. The Golden Lions attempted a comeback, but the Braves held firm to take the win.
At the plate, Alcorn landed eight hits with one fielding error. Lopez-Molina and Smith had two hits each with two and three RBIs, respectively. Garret Palladino led the team in runs with three.
Austin Guzman (2-4) collected his second pitching victory of the season on the mound. The freshman from New Braunfels, Texas, threw for 4.2 frames with seven hits against, five runs (three earned), one walk, and five strikeouts.
UAPB had 11 hits in the contest but committed four fielding errors. Brandon Simon led the Golden Lions with a 3-for-4 outing at the plate with two RBIs. In the third inning, Wesley Guy took over pitching duties and was credited with the loss. He pitched 2.2 innings for two hits against, five runs (two earned), two walks, and three strikeouts.
UP NEXT
If the weather permits, the Braves will close out the series against UAPB tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Torii Hunter Baseball Complex.
