NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Evan Aslaksen homered and drove in three runs, Julian Swift added a home run and four RBIs, and Stephen F. Austin pulled away early to defeat Alcorn 16-8 Wednesday afternoon in nonconference baseball action taking place at Pilgrim's Park in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Stephen F. Austin (22-17) erupted for five runs in the first inning and never looked back.
Evan Aslaksen, the Lumberjacks first baseman, got the big blow, a 411-foot three-run shot to deep left field that capped the opening frame. Not to be outdone, second baseman Julian Swift added a solo homer in the second, a 377-foot drive to left, before delivering the knockout punch in the fourth – a two-out, three-RBI double that extended the Lumberjacks' lead to 13-3.
Ethan Adkisson went 4-for-5 with an RBI for SFA, while Cermodrick Bland scored twice and delivered a pair of hits from the top of the lineup.
The Lumberjacks finished with 14 hits and drew 11 walks, keeping persistent pressure on an Alcorn pitching staff that struggled with command throughout.
Alcorn (8-29) starter
Myles Dews lasted only three innings, allowing seven runs on six hits while walking six. The Braves cycled through four relievers, with
Nicholas Johnson surrendering six more runs in the fourth to effectively end any hope of a comeback.
The Braves showed fight in the fifth, erupting for five runs on a pair of Ethan Peña errors, a
Rayfield Adams III walk, a wild pitch, and an
Asher Friedman single.
Nico Garcia added a two-run double in the frame to draw Alcorn within 13-8.
But SFA answered with three more runs over the fifth and sixth innings to put the game out of reach.
Garcia finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs to lead Alcorn offensively.
Jamir Holloway went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
Hayden Tronson failed to factor into the decision for SFA after allowing three earned runs over four innings in his start on the mound. Jonathan Valdez (1-0) picked up the win with two scoreless innings of relief. Dews took the loss for the visiting Braves, falling to 2-1 on the campaign.
Alcorn turns its attention back to Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play this weekend for a big series against Southern (La.) in Lorman, Mississippi, beginning Friday, April 17 at 6 p.m.
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