Northwestern State Pushes Past Alcorn, 13-2

NATCHITOCHES, La. – Bryce Johnson homered and drove in three runs Tuesday evening as homestanding Northwestern State defeated visiting Alcorn 13-2 in a seven-inning run-rule contest housed at Brown-Stroud Field in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
 
Northwestern State (10-7) erupted for four runs in the second inning and five more in the fourth, effectively putting the game out of reach before the Braves could mount any sustained threat. The Demons pitching staff then kept the Alcorn offense in check the rest of the way.
 
Alcorn (2-14) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Rayfield Adams III knocked in Chase Moore who walked to begin the frame, giving the Braves an early 1-0 advantage.
 
The Demons immediately responded in the bottom of the frame against Alcorn starter José Cherena, plating four and never looking back.
 
Michael McAloose delivered the key blow with a two-run double to left field that scored Johnson and Wray. A throwing error by Cherena off the mound allowed a third run to score, and second baseman Zach White capped the frame with a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 4-1.
 
NSU scratched across two more runs in the third on a Mason Wray groundout RBI and an error by Alcorn shortstop Moore that allowed another run to score.
 
The Demons widened the lead in the home-half of the fourth against Braves reliever Myles Dews, who allowed five runs on five hits in his one inning of work out of the bullpen. Joe Siervo singled home JT Simonelli to start the scoring, and Bryce Johnson followed with a three-run home run to deep left field – his second of the season – to make it 11-1.
 
A wild pitch scored Wray later in the frame to cap the five-run inning.
 
The Braves clawed back a run in the top of the fifth when Asher Friedman connected on a fastball down the middle to drive in Kanious Davis from second courtesy a single to deep centerfield.
 
The hosts tacked on two runs in the sixth to produce the 13-2 final line.
 
Chase Prestwich (1-0) earned the win in relief, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings after entering in the second. Logan Trotter closed out the game by retiring all seven batters he faced over the final two frames.
 
Meanwhile for the Purple and Gold, Cherena (0-1) took the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits in two innings on the bump.
 
NSU centerfielder went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a walk to pace the Northwestern State lineup, while Johnson finished 1-for-2 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Additionally, Mason Wray added two hits and an RBI out of the six-hole.
 
Alcorn managed six hits and stranded nine across the game. Adams was a highlight offensively going 2-for-4 with an RBI, and designated hitter/shortstop Friedman added a run-scoring single of his own with that base knock in the fifth.
 
Henry Allred provided a bright spot out of the Braves bullpen, retiring all three batters he faced in the fifth with three strikeouts.
 
The Braves begin Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play Friday, March 13, as the Purple and Gold pay a visit to Huntsville, Alabama, for a three-game series against the Alabama A&M Bulldogs. First pitch of the series opener is set for 1 p.m.
 
Follow Alcorn State Sports on Twitter (@BravesSports) for all the latest news and updates. Follow us on Instagram (@AlcornSports) and YouTube (Braves Sports Network) for even further behind-the-scenes action across all Braves Athletics.