HOUSTON – Tanner Marek drove in five runs, including a walk-off run-rule grand slam in the seventh inning, and Jonathan Trejo added a home run and four RBIs as Texas Southern defeated Alcorn 18-5 Sunday afternoon at MacGregor Park in the rubber game of a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Baseball series in Houston, Texas.
Marek, the Tigers' third baseman, went 3-for-5 with three runs scored to pace a Texas Southern (17-13, 12-3 SWAC) offense that collected 12 hits and drew 11 walks. He capped the game's decisive seventh inning with a grand slam that closed the scoring 18-5, punctuating a six-run frame that put the run-rule into effect in the process.
Trejo contributed a two-run homer of his own in the fifth inning, a towering shot that plated three additional runners and pushed Texas Southern's advantage to 12-3. The shortstop finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored.
Anthony Ruiz added a pair of hits and three RBIs for the Tigers at the top of the lineup, in addition to swiping two bases. Marco Mueses added a two-run double in the second inning and finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs of his own.
Texas Southern starter Justin Mays earned the win, improving to 5-1 on the season. Mays worked 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out seven.
It would Alcorn (8-28, 2-13 SWAC) to strike first when starting pitcher
Kanious Davis led off the game with a triple and scored on a
Rayfield Adams III sacrifice fly, giving the Purple and Gold an early 1-0 lead.
After playing in nearby Cypress a day prior, the host Tigers back at MacGregor Park answered in the bottom of the second, pushing three runs across on a two-run double by Mueses and an RBI single from Ruiz to take a 3-1 edge.
The Braves briefly pulled even in the fourth when
Cooper Harris launched a two-run homer to right – his team-high third homer of the campaign, scoring Keatan Hawk ahead of him and knotting the game at 3-3. Harris finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs and two walks, respectfully.
The hosts restored their lead in the home-half of the fourth on an RBI double by Ruiz and a run-scoring error, then broke the game open in the fifth with seven runs. The frame featured an RBI single by Marek, a bases-loaded walk by Zachari Pace, and Trejo's grand slam.
Alcorn made a brief push in the top of the seventh frame, scoring twice on an RBI fielder's choice by shortstop
Asher Friedman and a run-scoring single from third baseman
Chase Moore to make it 12-5, but Texas Southern answered immediately with six runs in the bottom half to close the weekend series victory.
Davis took the loss for Alcorn on the bump, dropping to 3-2 on the season. He surrendered six runs (five earned) on six hits over four innings, walking four and striking out five.
Alcorn stays in the "Lone Star State" for a midweek showdown at Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday, April 15, at 3 p.m., in Nacogdoches, Texas.
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