ITTA BENA, Miss. – Despite battling back from an early 7-0 deficit to tie the game and outhitting the Devils 15-12, the Braves baseball comeback was cut short in the seventh, as Alcorn fell 17-13 to Mississippi Valley State.
Two Braves connected for three hits, and one saw three RBIs in the midweek contest in Itta Bena, Miss. Tyler Daniels led the Braves as he went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs. Garrett Palladino went 3-for-6 with one run and two RBIs. A trio of Braves had two-hit games as Kalum Banks, Jr., Jaylon Lucky, and Dillon Crowell notched two a piece, while Banks led the team in RBIs with three.
MVSU wasted no time taking a 4-0 lead, plating four runs in the bottom of the first. The Devils added three runs in the bottom of the second before Alcorn's starting pitcher retired to the dugout.
Hayden Konkler took the mound in the third, and Kevin Jackson came in the fifth, keeping Valley scoreless for three innings.
In the top of the fifth frame, Alcorn scored five runs. This allowed the Braves to begin their comeback. Tyler Daniels, Diego Lopez-Molina, and Banks found action at the plate for Daniels and Lopez-Molina to make it home, as well as Dillon Crowell, Chris Tillman, and Palladino.
The Devils then answered with three runs in the bottom of the next frame to take a 10-5 advantage. Alcorn tied the game in the seventh, scoring an additional five runs. This time Banks, Jr. and Crowell saw doubles as Jaylon Lucky, and Michael De Angelis had singles.
Not to be deterred, Valley put up seven in the second half of the inning to bring the score to 17-10. The Braves added three in the final frame, but it was not enough for the victory.
Payton Baylis took the for Alcorn State. The Monticello, Miss. native allowed five runs on three hits over two-thirds innings, striking out one. Jermel Ford started the contest as Terrance Johnson and Kameron Hopson entered the game in relief.
Calvin McClendon took the win for MVSU. The lefty allowed two hits and three runs with one strikeout.
Valley totaled 12 hits. Christopher Soeder and Victor Figueroa each racked up multiple hits.
Alcorn baseball returns to action on Friday, March 24, for the first of three games at Grambling State University. The first pitch is at 6 p.m.
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