MADISON, Ala. – Alabama A&M (10-31, 7-16 SWAC) won two games against Mississippi Valley State (10-23-1, 4-17 SWAC), delivering a 5-4 decision in the opener and 5-0 in the second game on Saturday, May 7 in a pair of NCAA Division I baseball games.
 
GAME 1: Alabama A&M 5, Mississippi Valley State 4
The Delta Devils would waste no time getting on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning as Maury Weaver stole home for a 1-0 lead. They would then capitalize in the top of the second inning with Jose Salazar-Ortega flying out to right field to allow Davon Mims to come home for a two run advantage.

MVSU would continue their offensive barrage in the top of the third as Christopher Soeder singled to right field and Treadwell Kennedy scored before Mims reached on a fielder's choice and Holmes came home for a 4-0 lead.

The Bulldogs would respond in the bottom of the fourth inning as freshman third baseman Jalen Ford (Birmingham, Ala.) grounded out to second base and sophomore first baseman Trevor Berkemeyer (North Las Vegas, Nev.) scored. Sophomore catcher Dillon Roop (New Market, Ala.) would then single to left field to allow junior second baseman Tommy Easley (Acworth, Ga.) to come home and close the gap to 4-2.

Pitching would then rule until AAMU responded in the bottom of the sixth inning as Easley stole home to be down by one. The score would remain the same until the Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the ninth inning and flipped the switch. Berkemeyer singled to right center and brought home junior short stop CJ Mervilus (Brooklyn, N.Y.) to even the score 4-4.

With Tensions high the Bulldogs would seal the game as junior pinch hitter Teddy Bridges (Montgomery, Ala.) singled to first base to bring home graduate Tim Dixon (Debary, Fla.) to end the 5-4 victory.

Mims led the Delta Devils with a 2-for-4 day that included an RBI and a scored run while Salazar-Ortega was 1-of-3 with an RBI and Soeder went 1-of-4 with an RBI. Salazar-Ortega pitched 1.1 innings allowing two earned runs, while striking out two to fall to 0-2.
 
Berkemeyer led the Bulldogs with a 1-for-3 day that included an RBI and a scored run while Easley was 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored. Bridges went 1-for-1 with an RBI. Freshman pitcher Avery Seaton (Huntsville, Ala.) threw 1.1 innings, allowing no earned run while striking out one to move to 2-2.

GAME 2: Alabama A&M 5, Mississippi Valley State 0
In the bottom of the first inning AAMU would scratch the scoreboard as Dixon doubled to left center and allowed Berkemeyer to score and take a 1-0 lead. Pitching would then rule the day as neither team affected the score until the Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the fifth inning. Easley would single to left field and bring home both graduate left fielder Nemo Wright (PG County, Md.) and Mervilus for a 3-0 advantage.

The Bulldogs would then capitalize in the bottom of the sixth inning as graduate center fielder Damani Thomas (Zellwood, Fla.) doubled down the right field and Roop scored to increase the lead by four runs.

AAMU would continue their offensive barrage in the bottom of the seventh inning as Wright scored on a passed ball for a 5-0 lead. For the next two innings neither team would be able to affect the score and the Bulldogs would secure two straight games.

Booker led the Delta Devils with a 2-of-3 day and Abraham Ortiz threw 5.2 innings, striking out four and allowed four earned runs to fall to 1-4.

Easley led the Bulldogs as he was 1-for-4 with a pair of RBIs while Wright was 1-for-5 and two scored runs. Berkemeyer had a 1-for-3 day with a run scored. Thomas was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Dixon went 1-of-4 with an RBI.Junior pitcher Josue Torres (Cidra, Puerto Rico) started and threw nine innings striking out six while allowing no earned runs to move to 2-4.

The Bulldogs will be back in action tomorrow, Sunday, May 8 as they wrap up the series against MVSU. First pitch is scheduled for 12 noon at James Clemens High School.