HUNTSVILLE, AL – Alcorn State baseball secured its first win of the season in dramatic fashion, defeating Alabama A&M 15-12 in 11 innings on Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Field. The Braves (1-10) displayed resilience throughout the game, bouncing back and sealing the victory with a three-run outburst in the top of the 11th inning.
Reyfield Adams had a standout performance, going 1-for-3 with three runs scored, a triple, and four stolen bases.
Ben Martin and
Nathan Gamez both contributed two hits and two RBIs, while
Jermel Ford drove in four runs to lead the Braves' offensive attack. Kalum Banks,
Gavin Caston, and
Mason Duke also recorded key hits to help Alcorn's 12-hit effort.
On the mound,
Luke Sanders delivered a solid start, allowing five runs (two earned) over seven innings while striking out three. Heston Konkler (1-0) earned the win in relief, working 1.1 scoreless innings, while
Hunter Bell closed out the game in the bottom of the 11th to pick up the save.
The game saw multiple lead changes, with Alcorn scoring in seven different innings. Alabama A&M (3-11) mounted a late comeback, scoring five runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth to force extra innings, but the Braves regained control in the 11th with clutch execution at the plate.
GAME RECAP
First Three Innings – Alcorn 4, Alabama A&M 4
- The Braves struck first in the opening frame, as Adams walked, stole two bases, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Ford.
- Gamez doubled home Martin to extend Alcorn's lead to 2-0.
- Alabama A&M responded with two runs in the bottom of the first and took a brief 3-2 lead in the second on an RBI double.
- Alcorn regained the lead in the third, scoring twice behind RBI groundouts from Ford and Banks.
Middle Innings – Alcorn 9, Alabama A&M 5
- The Braves added a run in the fifth when Ford reached on an error, allowing Adams to score.
- A four-run sixth inning saw Alcorn break the game open, highlighted by an RBI double from Martin and a run-scoring single from Ford.
- Alabama A&M added a run in the bottom of the fifth, but Sanders kept them in check, working three straight scoreless frames.
Late Innings – Alabama A&M Forces Extras at 12-12
- Alcorn tacked on two more runs in the seventh, as Caston reached on an error and later scored on a single by Duke.
- Alabama A&M stormed back with a five-run eighth inning, capitalizing on two Alcorn errors and a two-run double to cut the Braves' lead to 11-10.
- The Bulldogs tied the game in the ninth on a wild pitch, sending the contest to extra innings.
Extra Innings – Alcorn 15, Alabama A&M 12
- The Braves responded in the 11th, taking the lead when Adams walked, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on a passed ball.
- Martin added a sacrifice fly to drive in another run, and Ford reached on an error to bring home a third run in the inning.
- Konkler and Bell shut down Alabama A&M in the bottom half, with Bell inducing a groundout to secure the win.
BY THE NUMBERS
- 4 – Jermel Ford led Alcorn with four RBIs, delivering in key scoring situations.
- 5 – Alcorn capitalized on five Alabama A&M errors to score multiple unearned runs.
- 7 – The Braves stole seven bases, with Adams swiping four on his own.
- 12 – Alcorn recorded 12 hits, marking its highest offensive output of the season.
- 205 – The game lasted 205 total pitches between both teams, showing the grind-it-out nature of the extra-inning battle.
UP NEXT
Alcorn State (1-10) will conclude the series against Alabama A&M on Sunday, March 9, in Huntsville, AL. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. CST.
