JACKSON, Miss. – Devin Kriley and Kayden Sutton combined for six strikeouts on the hill Saturday afternoon as Alcorn dropped the series opener to Jackson State 9-1 at Braddy Field in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Baseball contest in Jackson, Mississippi.
 
Jackson State starting pitcher Talmadge Davis went the distance and was nearly untouchable on the bump for the Tigers, giving up just one (1) hit over nine innings while striking out a career-best 15 batters in the contest.
 
The sophomore right-hander, who improved to 2-2 on the season, hit two batters but never allowed an earned run, holding Alcorn (9-35, 3-18 SWAC) scoreless through four innings before the Braves' lone tally came across on an unearned run in the fifth.
 
Edwin Lemus Hudson Jr. paced the Jackson State offense, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and scoring a pair of runs on his own. Tyree Reed reached base three times, going 2-for-4 with a walk and scoring three runs from the top of the order.
 
For JSU, Robert Tate Jr. added a two-run double in the fourth inning and finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
 
Diego Melendez contributed a 2-for-5 afternoon with two RBIs as well, while Pierre Cabral went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.
 
JSU (20-23, 10-12 SWAC) broke the game open in the fourth inning, plating three runs to push its lead to 5-0.
 
Tate's two-run double down the right-field line scored Reed and Tyshon Patty – the latter on an unearned run – before Lemus Hudson followed with an RBI single up the middle to make it 5-0 for the hosts.
 
The Tigers had put up their first runs in the third inning when Cabral singled to left center to score Reed, and Melendez followed with an RBI single to center to make it 2-0.
 
The Braves opened their scoring account in the fifth when Adrian Vallescorbo scored on a throwing error by shortstop Melendez on a fielder's choice, as the shortstop tried to cut down Vallescorbo scampering to third. However, that would be the extent of the Braves' offense.
 
The Tigers answered with three more in the sixth on RBI singles by Lemus Hudson and Melendez, respectively, plus a bases-loaded walk drawn by Shemar Harris.
 
Lemus Hudson Jr. scored the game's final run in the eighth on an unearned run when Alcorn relief pitcher Kayden Sutton's pickoff attempt sailed wide of third baseman Jamir Holloway who was covering.
 
Alcorn starter lefty Devin Kriley took the loss, falling to 0-7 after surrendering five runs (three earned) on seven hits across four innings. Sutton relieved and gave up four more runs (three earned) over the final four frames, respectfully.
 
Davis, meanwhile, retired 11 of the final 12 batters he faced and finished with a 110-pitch complete game. The only Alcorn hit came off the bat of Chase Moore, who doubled to left in the sixth frame.
 
The two sides continue the series on Sunday, May 3, back at Braddy Field beginning at 1 p.m.
 
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