ITTA BENA, Miss. ^__ The Alabama A&M baseball program dropped a 6-1 decision to Mississippi Valley State on Friday evening at Magnolia Field to open the three-game weekend series.
 
Mississippi Valley State (11-30, 3-16 SWAC) got on the board first in the third inning, before adding four in the seventh and a single run in the eighth to account for its scoring. Alabama A&M (12-23, 3-14 SWAC) got their solo run in the eighth, on a bases loaded walk.
 
Junior Chandler Stocking led the Bulldogs at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance, accounting for a pair of singles and a double. Chevalier Dorris, Mekhi Lloyd, and Blake Martin all earned one hit each for the six total for the team in the loss.
 
The two programs struggled offensively through the first two innings, with just one hit on each side heading into the third before the Delta Devils got a single in the third and advanced the runner to later score on a groundout to take a 1-0 lead.
 
The Bulldogs got a pair of runners on base in the fifth with a single to center field from Dorris to lead off the inning, followed by a single to left from Stocking for one of his three hits on the day, however, could not convert as the inning ended with both on base. They also got two more runners on in the top of the seventh with a Martin single and double from Stocking, yet both were left stranded again at the close of the frame.
 
The Delta Devils took control in the bottom half of the seventh, earning four hits and scoring five runs in the inning. They opened the frame with a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases and scored their first two runs of the seventh on an RBI single to right field. MVSU later added another pair of runs in the inning on an infield single and on a fielder's choice play on the next at-bat to go up 5-0.
 
A&M finally got on board in the eighth, as CJ Mervilus got on with an error, followed by walks from Lloyd and Tommy Easley to load the bases. Two batters later, Dorris drew his second walk of the game to bring home Mervilus to make the score 5-1.
 
MVSU responded to add their final run in the bottom of the inning, with a double and RBI single to take the 6-1 final.
 
The Bulldogs used a pair of arms in the contest, with Tyler Campbell earning the start and working 6.1 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits and striking out four. Dustin Hernandez came in out of the bullpen to face the final nine batters, allowing three hits and one run.
 
Meanwhile, Hunter Stallings earned the win for the Delta Devils, also pitching for 6.2 innings of play, and allowing six hits and no runs while striking out seven.

The two teams will resume the series on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Magnolia Field, with the Bulldogs looking to rebound in the final two games to take the series.
 
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