Bulldogs set team record for wins; reclaim second spot in SWAC East

JACKSON, MS – Sparked by an eight-run fifth inning, the Bulldogs rolled to a 14-3 win Monday over Jackson State and set a program Division 1 record for wins in a season.

It was the team's 22^nd win – eclipsing the record of 21 wins set last season – and the game was called after seven innings for the 10-run rule.

With the win, the Bulldogs (14-7 SWAC, 22-22 overall) moved ahead of Jackson State (11-6, 25-15) into second place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division and avoided a three-game sweep by the Tigers.

This weekend, A&M takes on intrastate rival Alabama State in a crucial SWAC East showdown. The Hornets are in first place in the East and took two out of three games from the Bulldogs in their meeting last month in Montgomery.

Jordan Friend hit his ninth home run of the season to tie teammate Julio Nunez for the conference lead and Joshua Freeman pitched six strong innings to even his record at 2-2.

Showing some offense that was lacking in Sunday's losses to Jackson State, the Bulldogs jumped out early, building a 6-0 lead through 2 ½ innings when the Tigers scored twice in the third to cut the lead to 6-2.

In the fifth inning, with the Bulldogs holding a 7-2 lead, Brandyn Crutcher and Ben Lott hit back-to-back two-run doubles to make the score 11-2. Austin Hulsey followed with an RBI single and Nunez hit a two-run double of his own to widen the gap to 14-2.

Freeman gave way to Ben Ryder who pitched a scoreless seventh inning to clinch the win for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs host Tennessee Tech on Wednesday in their final home game of the season. First pitch is 3 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#7 Brandyn Crutcher: OF; 5' 9"; Senior; R/R

#11 Joshua Freeman: P; 6' 0"; Senior; R/R

#22 Jordan Friend: INF; 6' 3"; Senior; R/R

#26 Austin Hulsey: OF/1B; 6' 3"; Junior; L/R

#9 Ben Lott: INF/OF; 5' 10"; Senior

#10 Julio Nunez: SS/UT; 5' 11"; Senior; R/R

#33 Ben Ryder: RHP; 6' 7"; Redshirt Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#7 Brandyn Crutcher
: 5' 9"; Senior; R/R
: OF

#11 Joshua Freeman
: 6' 0"; Senior; R/R
: P

#22 Jordan Friend
: 6' 3"; Senior; R/R
: INF

#26 Austin Hulsey
: 6' 3"; Junior; L/R
: OF/1B

#9 Ben Lott
: 5' 10"; Senior
: INF/OF

#10 Julio Nunez
: 5' 11"; Senior; R/R
: SS/UT

#33 Ben Ryder
: 6' 7"; Redshirt Senior; R/R
: RHP