THE HILL | Alabama A&M University freshman pitcher Charles Morris entered the game with the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the ninth inning and slammed the door shut without allowing a run as the Bulldogs took the opener, defeating Mississippi Valley State, 8-5, in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game on Friday at the Bulldog Baseball Field.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 
Alabama A&M (6-15 overall, 1-3 SWAC) struck for a pair of runs with two outs in the bottom of the first inning.
 
Kylan Duncan singled to right and moved to second on a Wilmer Cuevas walk. Both advanced a base on a wild pitch. Morris reached on an error to plate Duncan from second. Dre Amaral followed with a walk to load the bases. Cuevas scored on a passed to grab an early 2-0 lead.
 
Mississippi Valley State (4-8, 0-1) cut the deficit in half with a run in the top of the second and took a 3-2 advantage with two runs in the third.
 
In the bottom of the frame, Alabama A&M answered with two runs.
 
Duncan and Cuevas walked. After a pitching change, Duncan stole third and scored on an error, tying the game at 3. Cuevas came in to score on Dre Amaral's base hit to center, giving AAMU the 4-3 advantage.
 
The Bulldogs extended the lead to 5-3 as Rutledge, who reached on a fielder's choice, scored on Duncan's single to center in the fourth inning.
 
The Delta Devils closed the gap to 5-4 on a solo homer by Benny Hernandez in the sixth inning and tied the game with a run in the eighth.
 
Alabama A&M responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning, all coming with two outs.
 
Rutledge singled to left and moved all the way to third on an error on the play. After AJ Anderson drew a walk, Duncan singled through the left side, scoring two runs. Cuevas followed with a base hit to left, plating Duncan for an 8-5 lead.
 
Mississippi Valley State loaded the bases in the top of the ninth by reliever Charles Morris fanned the first two batters before a lineout ended the game.
 
GAME NOTES

• Alabama A&M finished with eight runs on 10 hits, committed four errors and stranded nine on base
• Kylan Duncan went 3-for-4, with three RBI and three runs scored
• Elvis Victoriano went 2-for-4
• Trey Rutledge was 2-for-4, with a pair of runs scored
• Jaiden Proper gave up four runs on six hits, walking two and striking out two in six innings
• Edgar Rodriguez (1-0), Bryce Dolce and Morris worked in relief
• Mississippi Valley State finished with five runs on seven hits, recorded five errors and left 12 on base
• Benny Hernandez went 2-for-4, with one run scored and one RBI
• Kade Wood was 2-for-5, with one run driven in
• Brayden Eftink pitched two innings, surrendering four runs (two earned) on two hits, with five walks
• Shuto Tiger Okumura and Logan Darnell (1-3) saw action out of the bullpen

 
UP NEXT  
Alabama A&M returns to action for Game 2 of the series on Saturday against Mississippi Valley State. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. from the Bulldog Baseball Field.
 
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