Baseball suffers set back against South Dakota State

Box Score

NORMAL – The A&M baseball team held a 4-0 lead going into the top half of the seventh inning, but the Jackrabbits 10 unanswered runs was too much to handle as South Dakota State went on to a 12-5 victory Friday afternoon.

Josh Freeman turned in a strong performance on the mound, striking out five batters over six innings while allowing just four hits and three runs.

The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on a run-scoring single by Andrew Utterback, then added two more runs in the fourth on RBI base hits by Julio Nunez and Patrick Dodson. Utterback homered to lead off the fifth inning to build the A&M lead to 4-0.

South Dakota State put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring 10 runs in the frame for a 10-4 lead. SDSU's Jake Ratz highlighted the inning with a grand slam over right field wall, clearing the bases, with only one out.

In the bottom of the eight the Bulldogs scored their final run of the game when SWAC player of the week Julio Nunez batted in Justin Folger, cutting the lead 10-5.

The Jackrabbits added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning to claim the first win of the four-game series.

Offensively the Maroon & White was led by Dustin Dhanani, Utterback, Austin Hulsey, Dodson, and Ramon Nelson who all posted two hits on the day. Nunez and Utterback both collected two RBI's.

Friday's meeting was the first-ever meeting between SDSU and Alabama A&M in baseball.

The Bulldogs return to action Saturday, Feb. 22, for a double header with South Dakota State on "The Hill". First pitch is set for 11 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.

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