HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Alabama A&M (4-13, 2-2 SWAC) delivered an offensive barrage to defeat Jackson State (11-11, 0-4 SWAC) 8-3 on Friday, March 25 in an NCAA Division I baseball game.
 
The Bulldogs wasted no time getting on the score board as bases were loaded and sophomore first baseman Trevor Berkemeyer (North Las Vegas, Nev.) singled to left field to bring home freshman left fielder Janmikell Bastardo (Fort Myers, Fla.) and allowed freshman defensive hitter Brycen Hammonds (Madison, Ala) to score and create a 2-0 lead.
 
The score would stay that way until the Bulldogs responded in the bottom of the fourth as graduate right fielder Tim Dixon (Debary, Fla.) singled to right field and graduate center fielder Nemo Wright scored to increase the advantage to 3-0. JSU would respond in the top of the fifth as Omar Gomez-Rivera singled to shortstop to bring home Jefrey Rodriguez to close the gap to 3-1.
 
Neither team would add a run during the sixth inning but AAMU would respond loudly in the bottom of the seventh as junior shortstop CJ Mervilus homered to left field before Berkemeyer doubled to right field to bring home Bastardo and junior catcher Jared Tribett (Lumberton, Miss.). The barrage would continue and freshman third baseman Jalen Ford (Birmingham, Ala.) tripled to right field and Berkemeyer scored another run before Ford scored on a fielding error for an 8-1 advantage.
 
The Tigers would respond in the top of the eight as Ty Hill scored on a fielding error before capitalizing in the ninth as El'Rico Riley came home to cut the deficit but the Bulldogs would close out the 8-3 victory.
 
Gomez-Rivera led the Tigers with a 1-for-3 day and an RBI while Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Riley was 1-of-4 with a run scored and Juan Marulanda threw six innings, allowing five earned runs and striking out six to fall to 3-3. 
 
Berkemeyer led the Bulldogs with a 2-for-4 day, four RBIs and a run scored while Mervilus was 1-of-4, with a home run, an RBI and one run scored. Ford went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Junior pitcher Jose Figueroa (Toa Alta, Puerto Rico) threw seven innings, only allowing one earned run and struck out seven to move to 1-1.           
 
AAMU will be back in action tomorrow Saturday, March 26 for their second game of the three-game series against Jackson State. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. at Bulldog Field.