LORMAN, Miss. – Alabama A&M (2-0, 0-0 SWAC) picked up a pair of wins on opening day of the 2023 season, defeating Alcorn State 5-4 and 9-5 inside of McGowan Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
Alabama A&M 5, Alcorn State 4
Game one was a tight ball game, with both teams being held scoreless through the first three innings. With just two hits prior to the fourth, Jared Tribett (Lumberton, Miss.) doubled early in the inning and stole third during the next at-bat. From there, Blake Martin (Houston, Texas) drew a walk and advanced to scoring position after a stolen base, before Tribett was brought home for the first run off a single from Jalen Parker (Marietta, Ga.).
 
Alcorn responded in the bottom of the fifth, leading off the inning by drawing a walk and later scoring on an RBI double, however A&M escaped the inning after subbing in Tyler Campbell (Albuquerque, N.M.) on the mound to force the final two outs.
 
Both teams scored a pair of runs in the seventh, as the Bulldogs added theirs on a single from Tommy Easley (Acworth, Ga.) driving in both Mekhi Lloyd (Decatur, Ga.) and Chevalier Dorris (Raymond, Miss.) who singled earlier in the frame to take a 3-1 lead. Later, Alcorn responded to tie the game with three hits, including an RBI triple to drive in the first score, followed by an RBI single before the close of the inning.
 
A&M added two more scores in the eighth, as Miles Jackson (Atlanta, Ga.) tripling after coming in to pinch hit to drive home Parker, and scored on an Alcorn error to go up 5-3, before the Bulldogs held the Braves to just one run in the bottom half of the inning to secure the win.
 
Jackson Hall (Jonesboro, Ark.) the started the game on the mound, dealing for 4.1 innings, allowing just one run on one hit, while striking out nine batters. Campbell (1-0) picked up the win in relief, pitching for 3.2 innings and surrendering three runs on five hits along with three strikeouts.
 
Meanwhile, three Alcorn State pitchers appeared on the mound, with Lorenz (0-1) picking up the loss.
 
Parker shined in the season-opener, going a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate, with an RBI and scoring a run. Dorris and Tribett also earned multiple hits in the game, with Dorris going 2-for-5 with a run scored, followed by Tribett at 2-for-4 with a run.
 
Alabama A&M 9, Alcorn State 5
Despite Alcorn State jumping on the board first with a RBI double in the opening inning of game two, the Bulldogs responded with four unanswered runs to take a 4-1 lead after three.
 
Martin got the Bulldogs going in the second with an RBI single to drive in Tribbett, followed by a sacrifice fly from CJ Mervilus (Brooklyn, N.Y.) to score Martin later in the inning. Meanwhile, Parker continued his hot day at the plate, doubling in the third to bring home a pair of runs to extend the lead.
 
The Braves responded in the fourth with a pair of scores to get within a run at 4-3, however Alabama A&M scored again on a two-run homer from Martin in the fifth to go back up three.
 
From there, Alcorn clawed back once more, scoring twice in the sixth, with the last on a wild pitch, but the Bulldogs finished off the game with two more scores in the seventh, and neither team added to their totals in the final two frames, giving A&M the 9-5 win.
 
Martin carried the load offensively in the second game, going 3-for-3 at the plate with five RBIs, including the two-run homer and scoring three runs, followed by Parker who went 2-for-3 with three runs batted in.
 
Evan Crenshaw (Memphis, Tenn.) earned the start and win in game two, pitching for five innings, allowing nine hits and five runs while striking out seven. Jason Marono (Miami, Fla.) worked two innings in relief, not allowing a hit or run, while striking out a pair of batters.
 
Up Next
The Bulldogs will return to McGowan Stadium on Sunday for the conclusion of the three-game series, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
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