Braves Baseball Drops Rubber Game at AAMU

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Tervell Johnson drove in three runs and Alabama A&M erased a fifth-inning deficit with a four-run sixth inning to defeat visiting Alcorn 10-6 on Sunday afternoon in the rubber game of a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Baseball series at Bulldog Field.
 
Johnson, who finished 2-for-2 with a pair of walks, tripled home a run in the third inning and singled up the middle for two more runs in the seventh to allow his side the come-from-behind series victory. His two-run single capped a dominant second half for the Bulldogs, who trailed 5-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
 
Alabama A&M (7-14, 2-1 SWAC) sent seven batters to the plate in the sixth inning, scoring four times on just three hits in the frame.
 
AJ Anderson scored the tying run on a wild pitch, and a second wild pitch later in the frame scored Tervell Johnson to give the Bulldogs the lead for good. Chris Walker added an RBI single, and Brycen Hammonds drove in another run with a single to center to make it 8-5.
 
Hammonds finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs on the day.
 
The Bulldogs Rynzo Crutcher (1-1) earned the win after tossing three scoreless innings in relief, allowing just one hit while striking out one. Bryce Dolce closed things out with three innings of one-run ball, striking out three to earn his first save of the season.
 
Alcorn (3-15, 1-2 SWAC) grabbed an early advantage on the strength of a three-run second inning, highlighted by a two-run single from Julian Jarrett, who finished 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs in the contest.
 
The Braves pushed the lead to 5-4 in the fourth on an RBI double by Jarrett and an RBI single from centerfielder Rayfield Adams III at the top of the order.
 
Starting pitcher Yoni Castro struggled for Alcorn, allowing four earned runs on five hits while walking five over 3.2 innings on the mound. Nicholas Johnson (0-1) was tagged with the loss after surrendering two runs in relief.
 
AAMU's 11 walks proved costly for the Braves' staff, as four Alcorn pitchers combined to issue free passes all afternoon.
 
The Purple and Gold bats were sparked by Jarrett, as well as catcher Nico Garcia who finished 2-for-5 with a run and RBI of his own.
 
Alcorn returns home to Lorman, Mississippi, to host Champion Christian College for a nonconference doubleheader on Tuesday, March 17, beginning at 2 p.m.
 
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