Baseball defeats Valley 9-0 & 8-2 on first day of doubleheaders

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

NORMAL - In their first home game in nearly a month, the Bulldogs handed Mississippi Valley State University a 9-0 and 8-2 loss on the first day of their four game double header series.

In game one starting pitcher Ryan Ahrens and the Bulldogs held the Delta Devils to just four hits and a no runs The A&M victory snapped a season-long eight-game losing streak, all on the road.

Saturday marked Alabama A&M's first home game since April 13. This is also the first time that A&M has had double digit wins in conference play since the 2009 season.

In his fourth start this year, Ahrens earned the victory after facing 27 batters. He struck out nine and only allowed two Delta Devils to past second base.

Connor Sheppard of MVSU pitched well but got the loss going five innings allowing eight hits and five runs.

Offensively, the Bulldogs broke the scoreless tie in the third inning. Brandon Crutcher led off the inning with a base hit and advanced to second on a stolen base. Julio Nunez belted the ball to the deepest part of right-center field for a double and easily scored Crutcher for a 1-0 edge.

A&M then responded when Austin Hulsey blasted a shot over left field wall. The next batter Austin Utterback was close for another Bulldog home run but settled for a triple. He was then brought home on a grounder by Patrick Dodson. A&M then scored two runs in the fifth, three in the seventh and one in the eighth inning to secure the 10^th win over the year.

A&M totaled 12 hits on the day. Nunez led the team going 3 for 5 on the day with two run's batted in.

In the game two, Utterback went 3 for 5 and two RBI's, as the Bulldogs defeated Valley 8-2. The Maroon & White jumped out to a 3-0 lead on the Devils, then in the seventh the Bulldogs tacked on four runs to stay ahead of Valley 7-0.

Senior Dakota Smith got the win on the mound for AAMU. He allowed one run on five hits and one walk while striking out four over eight innings. He did not allow a run in his last five innings. Smith's only blip of the evening came in the top of the eighth inning when Valley's designated hitter Chase Dicharry hit a solo shot over the left center field wall.

Valley would get on the board again on an inside the park homerun from first baseman Xzavier Franklin.

Senior Manny Lora then retired the side in order in the ninth inning for his fifth save.

In their final game on "The Hill" the two seniors, Manny Lora and Dakota Smith, performed well, and got a great send off in front of their family and friends.

The doubleheader series finale between the Bulldogs and Delta Devils is Sunday, May 3, beginning at 12:00 p.m. at Bulldog field

Sunday's game will be available via live stats.

For more information on Alabama A&M athletics, visit aamusports.com. Fans can also find the Bulldogs on Twitter at @aamubulldogs or on Facebook at Facebook.com/Alabama-AM-Bulldogs

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