ITTA BENA, Miss. | The Alabama A&M University baseball team got home runs from
Chevalier Dorris,
Jared Tribett and
Tristan Curless as the Bulldogs nearly rallied from a nine-run deficit as Mississippi Valley State picked up a 13-10 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) victory on Saturday night at Magnolia Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mississippi Valley State (11-31 overall, 3-23 SWAC) jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three runs in the bottom of the first inning, highlighted by a two-run homer by Benny Hernandez.
Alabama A&M (12-36, 8-18) trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the second.
Zak Rice opened the frame with a base hit to right and advanced to third on a double to left by
Jesus Riera.
Blake Martin followed with a single to center as Rice and Riera scored.
However, the Delta Devils answered in the bottom of the inning with two runs, extending the advantage to 5-2.
MVSU exploded for six runs on four hits, including a three-run shot by Hernandez, in the third in stretching its lead to 11-2.
The Bulldogs used the long ball in the fifth inning.
Dorris opened the frame with a solo homer to right. With one out,
Brycen Hammonds singled and Curless doubled. Both came in to score on a three-run shot by Tribett. AAMU still wasn't done as Rice tripled to center and scored on a sacrifice fly by Riera as Alabama A&M closed the gap to 11-7.
The Bulldogs used a three-run seventh, cutting the deficit to just one run, 11-10.
Curless began the inning with a homer to deep center. Tribett walked and Rice singled to center. After a walk to Riera, Tribett scored on a wild pitch as the runners moved up a base. With one out, Rice came around to score on a ground out by
Alex Diaz.
Alabama A&M loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth but could not bring home the tying run as Riera grounded out to the pitcher to end the frame.
The Delta Devils pushed the advantage to 13-10 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth.
GAME NOTES
- Alabama A&M finished with 10 runs on 12 hits, committed four errors and stranded nine on base
- Zak Rice went 3-for-4, with three runs scored
- Jared Tribett was 2-for-3, with two walks, three RBI and two runs scored
- Tristan Curless went 2-for-4, with one walk, one stolen base, two runs scored and one RBI
- Ryan Jones (2-4) took the loss, surrendering nine runs (seven earned) on six hits, with four walks and two strikeouts in 2.0 innings
- Evan Hurlburt, Dustin Hernandez and Tristan Curless pitched in relief
- Mississippi Valley State finished with 13 runs on nine hits, had one error and left five on base
- Benny Hernandez went 2-for-4, with two homers, one walk, two runs scored and five runs batted in
- Will Menendez went 3-for-5, with three RBI and two runs scored
- Quin Bennett gave up seven runs on 10 hits, fanned two and walked on in five innings
- Brayden Eftink and Jesus Campa worked in relief
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M concludes its series with Mississippi Valley State on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. from Magnolia Field.
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