DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. | Jesus Riera and
Brycen Hammonds each drove in two runs as the Alabama A&M University baseball team rallied to tie the game in the top of the ninth, but a walk-off balk lifted Bethune-Cookman to an 8-7 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) victory on Thursday at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Alabama A&M (3-21 overall, 1-6 SWAC) struck for two runs on three hits in the opening inning to jump out to a 2-0 lead.
Alex Diaz began the frame with a walk and advanced 90 feet to second when
Dre Amaral singled through the left side. With two outs,
Jesus Riera singled to center to plate Diaz and
Brycen Hammonds reached on an infield hit as Amaral scored.
The Bulldogs pushed across another run in the third.
Tristan Curless began the inning with a walk and advanced to second when
Jared Tribett drew a base on balls. Curless advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Riera sacrifice fly to center as Alabama A&M stretched its lead to 3-0.
Bethune-Cookman (13-11, 5-1) tied the game at 3 in the bottom of the fourth with three runs, but Alabama A&M answered with two runs in the top half of the fifth to grab a 5-3 lead.
Amaral opened the inning with an infield hit and moved to second on a Curless infield single. Tribett followed with a single up the middle, scoring Amaral. With one out, Hammonds reached on a fielder's choice as Tribett scored.
The Wildcats plated two runs on three hits in the bottom of the frame, tying the game at 5.
BCU added two runs off two hits in the seventh and grabbed a 7-5 advantage.
Alabama A&M pulled to within one run, 7-6, after scoring one run on no hits in the eighth.
KJ Stanfield opened the inning and was lifted for pinch runner
Jose Puig.
Chevalier Dorris and Diaz drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. After a pitching change, Amaral walked, scoring Puig from third. However, Curless struck out and Tribett grounded out to end the inning.
The Bulldogs rallied in the ninth as Hammonds smacked a one-out triple to left center and came across to tie the game at 7 on a
Christian Soto ground out.
Bethune-Cookman won the game with a walk-off balk in the bottom of the ninth for the 8-7 victory.
GAME NOTES
- Alabama A&M finished with seven runs on seven hits, with one error and left 10 on base
- Dre Amaral went 2-for-3, with two runs scored and one RBI
- Brycen Hammonds went 2-for-5, with two runs driven in and one run scored
- Jesus Riera, Tristan Curless and Jared Tribett collected one hit apiece
- Anthony Mateo surrendered five runs on 10 hits and fanned three in 5.2 innings
- Dustin Hernandez and Tristan Curless pitched in relief
- Bethune-Cookman finished with eight runs on 14 hits and stranded eight on base
- Jose Gonzalez went 3-for-5, with one run scored
- Manny Souffrain went 3-for-5, with one RBI and one run scored
- Joel Core started for the Wildcats, giving up five runs on six hits, five strikeouts and four walks in four innings
- Dylan Dudones and Patrick Groark worked in relief
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M continues its three-game SWAC series on Friday against Bethune-Cookman. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
For complete coverage of Alabama A&M Athletics, check out the official homepage at www.aamusports.com. Remember to follow us on social media: Instagram (@aamuathletics), Facebook (aamubulldogathletics), Twitter (@_aamuathletics) and TikTok (aamuathletics).
