HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – It would be a game of massive scoring innings as Alabama A&M (1-6, 1-1 SWAC) fell by a 16-14 score to Alcorn State (4-5, 4-4 SWAC) in an NCAA Division I baseball game on Saturday, March 20.
 
The first two innings would not foreshadow what was to come as neither team managed a run and combined for just one hit. That would change in a big way in the top of the third, however, as the Braves pounded out five hits and scored seven run for a 7-0 lead.
 
A&M would get on the board with a run on a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the inning and would cut it to 7-3 with a pair of runs on a triple by freshman outfielder Janmikell Bastardo (Fort Myers, Fla.) in the fourth.
 
The score would stay that way until the bottom of the sixth when a double by sophomore shortstop Trevor Berkemeyer (North Las Vegas, Nev.), two bases loaded walks, a bunt single, a single to right and a passed ball comprised a six run rally that took the Bulldogs from down 7-3 to up 9-7. They would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the seventh on another bases loaded walk and a wild pitch to make it a four-run margin. It would not be enough.
 
Leading by that score entering the top of the ninth, Alabama A&M would see ASU rally for nine runs on just four hits to come all the way back and take a 16-11 lead. Three of those hits would be singles with the other being a double off the bat of Tyler Daniels.
 
Suddenly down but not out, the Bulldogs rallied in the bottom of the ninth as junior outfielder Teddy Bridges (Montgomery, Ala.) launched a two-run shot over the centerfield fence to cut it to 16-13 with no outs. Following a strikeout Berkemeyer powered a blast of his own, clearing the right field fence to make it a two run deficit. They would have bring the tying run to the plate following a walk but could not complete the improbable comeback, falling 16-14.
 
Bridges and Berkemeyer each belted homeruns and had a pair of RBIs to lead Alabama A&M while freshman third baseman Jalen Ford (Birmingham, Ala.) was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Freshman first baseman Dylan Hall (Elkmont, Ala.) added a pair of RBIs with two bases loaded walks and freshman outfielder RJ Farrell (Madison, Ala.) finished the day 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI.
 
Senior Michael Hovermill (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) started and went 2.2 innings, allowing five earned runs and striking out three while junior pitcher Josue Torres (Cidra, Puerto Rico) pitched the bulk of the innings (5.1), allowing just an unearned run to go with four strikeouts. Freshman pitcher Jason Marono (Miami, Fla.) pitched a third of an inning and suffered the loss to drop to 0-1.
 
A quintet of Khalil Smith, Tristin Garcia, Hunter Wilson, Daniels and Garrett Palladino each had a pair of RBIs to lead the Braves, with all but Smith registering two hits. Brandon Rembert was the only other player to accomplish that, finishing 2-of-6 with an RBI. Lane Gordon started and pitched five innings, allowing three runs (one earned) and struck out four. Devin Puckett threw 2.1 innings, giving up three runs and ringing up five to improve to 1-0 on the year.
 
Alabama A&M and Alcorn State meet in the rubber game of the series tomorrow, Sunday, March 21. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.