Braves Win Home Opener from SUNO

LORMAN, Miss. – Jaylyn Bennett and Asher Friedman combined for four hits Tuesday afternoon as Alcorn Baseball took down visiting Southern-New Orleans 4-1 at Willie E. "Rat" McGowan Stadium in non-conference midweek action.
 
Alcorn (2-10) scored runs in each of the first two innings in order to get ahead early, and never looked back en route to a home opening win in Lorman, Mississippi.
 
Braves first baseman Cooper Harris singled to left in order to drive in the first run of the game as leadoff man Rayfield Adams III raced in from second. Adams led off the at-bat drawing a walk.
 
In the second, the Purple and Gold added to the lead with a pair of runs to make it 3-0.
 
Jamir Hollway walked with two outs before then stealing second. Adams walked to put two aboard, setting the stage for Bennett to deliver a two-run scoring double to deep centerfield, knocking in both Hollway and Adams, respectively.
 
Southern-New Orleans (6-4) grabbed a run back in the top of the third as Avery Spriggs singled to kick things off. After working his way to third with two outs, the Knights catcher trotted in from third courtesy a Kyler Shepherd RBI ground out to short, bringing his side to within 3-1.
 
But it would be Kanious Davis off the bench as a pinch hitter registering a single through the left side to push across shortstop Asher Friedman for the 4-1 final.
 
Braves reliever Myles Dews (1-0) grabbed the win out of the bullpen in working four innings, not allowing any runs on three hits, one walk and three strikeouts. Knights starter Christopher Nunez (1-1) took the loss in throwing 1.2 innings, giving up three runs on two hits, three walks and four strikeouts.
 
The save went to Hayden Konkler – earning his first of the year, with just one hit allowed and punching out two in the ninth inning.
 
Alcorn starter Nicholas Johnson went four innings with a run on just one hit surrendered and striking out seven without factoring into the decision.
 
SUNO used a 2-for-2 day the plate from Spriggs to lead the Knights on offense.
 
Alcorn's bats were paced by Bennett and Friedman each going 2-for-4 at the plate. Bennett also produced two RBIs, while Friedman scored a run of his own.
 
The Braves get back to action when traveling to Macon, Georgia, for a three-game weekend series at Mercer beginning Friday, March 6, at 6 p.m. ET.
 
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