UAPB Takes Game Two from Braves

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Alcorn was limited to just three hits Saturday afternoon as Arkansas-Pine Bluff took the second game of a three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Baseball series at Torii Hunter Baseball Complex in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. With the day's victory, UAPB claims the series having won the opener Friday afternoon as well.
 
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (12-17, 6-2 SWAC) plated runs in each of the first four innings in sending Alcorn starter Kayden Sutton to his fifth loss of the season after just two frames on the hill. Sutton allowed eight runs (all earned) on three hits while walking four and hitting four batters in his two-inning stint.
 
Leading 3-0 at the time, the Golden Lions broke the game open in the third inning, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring six times. A barrage of hit batsmen and walks set the table before Blake Coleman delivered the big blow of the frame, a two-run single to center field that pushed the lead to 9-0 in favor of the hosts.
 
First baseman Ian Smith was the offensive catalyst for the Golden Lions, going 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a stolen base. Zach Wieder added a triple and two RBIs, finishing 2-for-5 with four RBIs overall on the afternoon. Blake Coleman drove in three runs on one hit, and catcher Vinny Saumell contributed two hits, two RBIs and a double as well.
 
Leadoff man Jose Vasquez drew four walks and scored three times without recording an official at-bat, a constant thorn in Alcorn State's side all game. Second baseman Konner Giddley reached base four times and scored four runs.
 
Winning pitcher Kenney Fabian was dominant in his six innings of work, allowing just one run on one hit while striking out six and walking one. The right-hander improved to 1-3 on the season. Emerson Lott closed out the final inning in relief.
 
Alcorn (7-21, 1-7 SWAC) struggled offensively at the dish, managing only three hits and striking out eight times.
 
The Braves did, however, show a brief spark in the seventh inning, when pinch hitter Clayvonjae Wright singled up the middle to score Kanious Davis, who had stolen two bases already in the frame. But the rally fell short when Wright was thrown out at the plate to end the game.
 
For the Braves pitching staff, a total of three relievers in the form of Nicholas Johnson, Myles Dews and Garrett Oswald combined to allow 10 runs over the final four innings in relief of Sutton.
 
The two teams wrap up the series Sunday back at Torii Hunter Baseball Complex with game three beginning at 1 p.m.
 
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