Bulldogs go 1-2 versus Jackson

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3

JACKSON. – The Alabama A&M baseball team ended the weekend 1-2 in their first meeting with the Jackson State Tigers in the Eastern Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Game 1

The Tigers scored the first run of the game, when Melvin Rodriguez scored on a Fred Hampton single. A&M tied the game in the fourth inning (1-1) when Patrick Dodson scored on a double to right field by Andrew Utterback.

The Bulldogs took control of the contest in the seventh inning by scoring four runs. The Maroon & White then put the game away in the ninth with a three run inning earning their only victory of the series 8-1.

The Bulldogs recorded 10 hits as a team for the seventh occasion this season with double digit hits. Utterback had a perfect day at the plate going 4 for 4 with a run, and two RBI's. The Johnny Bench award watch list member, Dustin Dhanani, plated two runs and a hit in four at bats.

Joshua Freeman earned his first win of the year going eight innings and striking out nine.

The Tigers were led by Gary Thomas, Rodriguez and Hampton. Thomas went 3-4 at the plate, Rodriguez went 2-5 with a run and Hampton went 2-5 with a RBI.

Game 2

The Bulldogs opened a 2-0 advantage through the first four innings. Brandyn Crutcher started the scoring off when he crossed the plate when Austin Hulsey connected on a fastball that resulted in a ground out to second base. In the top of the fourth Jordan Benford scored on a Jordan Friend double.

JSU took the lead, with a four run fifth inning . JSU added another four runs in the sixth to make the score 8-4. JSU scored its final four runs in the seventh inning and held off AAMU for the remainder of the game.
The Maroon & White added a pair of runs in the sixth and a run in each of the final three innings before falling in the second game of the doubleheader 12-7.

The visitors posted 13 runs for their eighth contest of the year with double digit hits. Friend led the team with three hits in four at bats, two runs and two runs batted in. Hulsey went 2 for 4 with a run and a RBI.

Jackson's Alexander Juday (2-1) pitched six innings to pick up the win.

Game 3

In the finale of the first series with JSU the Bulldogs went looking for the final W on Sunday. Bulldog pitcher Devin Smith went a season high 10.1 innings striking out six while facing 43 batters.

The game was a perfect old school baseball contest going 11 innings in two hours and 18 minutes. AAMU struck first in the fourth when Hulsey scored on an Allen Smith's groundout.

Gary Thomas and Fred Hampton led JSU offensively, recording two hits each. Hampton and Tillery each scored a run for the Tigers. Hampton reached base on a single to right field and scored on a Stephen Curtis RBI single to left center field. Tillery doubled down the left field line to get on base and scored on a Hampton single.

The game would end with the Bulldogs on the wrong side of the scoreboard. They did however post eight hits and saw Utterback finish with two hits and Hulsey end with a pair of hits and a run.

A&M will enjoy five days off before welcoming in-state rival Alabama State to "The Hill" on Saturday and Sunday, March 15-16.

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