Alcorn Stumbles Late at UAPB, 8-7

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Jaylyn Bennett was 3-for-5 offensively as Alcorn suffered a tough 8-7 setback to Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Friday afternoon in the opening game of a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Baseball series housed at Torii Hunter Baseball Complex in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
 
Blake Coleman tripled and scored the go-ahead run on a Joe Adams bunt single in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the host Golden Lions to the come-from-behind win.
 
 
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (11-17, 5-2 SWAC) survived a six-run fifth inning by the Braves that briefly flipped the lead, holding on for the one-run decision.
 
Coleman finished 2-for-2 with three RBIs, a triple, a stolen base and three walks, while Zyon Hamilton went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI of his own for UAPB. Aaron Grant added a 2-for-5 effort with an RBI at shortstop.
 
 
Alcorn (7-20, 1-6) trailed 6-1 entering the fifth before erupting for six runs in the top-half of the frame.
 
Julian Jarrett, the Braves designated hitter, capped the rally with a two-run double that also scored two additional baserunners, a three-RBI hit that gave the Braves a 7-6 lead. Jaylyn Bennett went 3-for-5 with an RBI and Kanious Davis scored twice for the Purple and Gold as well.
 
UAPB answered in the seventh when Hamilton doubled down the left-field line to score Ian Smith and knot the game at 7-7.
 
The hosts then seized the lead for good an inning later when Coleman tripled to center and came home on Adams's sacrifice bunt single out in front of the plate rolling towards the mound.
 
Reagan James earned the win on the rubber for UAPB, improving to 3-2 after allowing four earned runs on six hits over five innings of relief. Hayden Konkler absorbed the loss in relief, dropping to 1-1 after surrendering the decisive run in 0.2 innings of work.
 
Alcorn starter Devin Kriley worked 3.2 innings, giving up six runs (one earned), walked seven, struck out two and allowed three hits. In relief of Kriley out of the bullpen, José Cherena filled the zone with 3.2 innings of action, surrendering two runs on six hits and two strikeouts.
 
The Golden Lions issued eight walks in the game, including four in UAPB's five-run fourth inning.
 
The Braves look to rebound Saturday afternoon in the second game of the three-game series back at Torii Hunter Baseball Complex with first pitch set for 2 p.m.
 
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