HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Alabama A&M (5-15, 3-3 SWAC) could not withstand an offensive barrage by Murray State (15-8, 1-1 OVC) and dropped a 7-3 decision in an NCAA Division I baseball game on Wednesday, March 30.
After a scoreless first inning the Racers would deliver three runs off three hits including a home run down the right field line from Brennan McCullough, in the top of the second inning for a 3-0 lead. They would then capitalize in the top of the third as Carson Garner singled to left center and brought home McCullough before Jordan Holly singled down right field and Garner scored to extend the advantage to 5-0.
The score would remain that way until the Bulldogs got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth as freshman third baseman
Jalen Ford (Birmingham, Ala.) singled to the pitcher and allowed freshman left fielder
Janmikell Bastardo (Fort Myers, Fla.) to score before sophomore first baseman
Trevor Berkemeyer (North Las Vegas, Nev.) scored on a throwing error to cut the deficit to 5-2.
Murray State would respond in the top of the fifth with a run by McCullough and neither team would put any points on the board until the bottom of the sixth inning as freshman pinch hitter
Devin Tonkins (Greensboro, N.C.) stole home to close the gap to 6-3. The score would remain that way until the top of the eight as the Racers answered with Drew Vogel signaling through the right side to bring home Jacob Pennington. From there pitching would rule the day and neither team would score and Murray State would close out the 7-3 road victory.
McCullough led the Racers with a 3-of-5 day, one homerun, an RBI and three runs scored while Garner went 2-of-2 with an RBI and a pair of runs. Holly was 1-of-3 with a run and an RBI scored to round out the top offensive performers. Malik Pogue threw three innings and allowed no earned runs to move to 1-0.
Ford led the Bulldogs with a 1-of-3 day and an RBI and Berkemeyer and Tonkins both added a run each. Freshman pitcher
Jason Garcia (Miami, Fla.) threw two innings, struck out one and allowed three earned runs to suffer the loss to fall to 0-1.
The Bulldogs are back in action for a three-game series against Florida A&M from April 1-3. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Bulldog Field.
