THE HILL | The Alabama A&M University baseball team could not recover from a six-run eighth inning as Mississippi Valley State took the final game of the three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series, 9-4, on Sunday afternoon at the Bulldog Baseball Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Alabama A&M (7-16 overall, 2-4 SWAC) struck for one run in the bottom of the first inning to grab an early 1-0 lead as
Trey Rutledge opened the frame with a double to right center and scored on
AJ Anderson's single to center.
Mississippi Valley State (5-9, 1-5) tied the game with a run in the top of the second and took a 2-1 lead with one run in the third.
The Delta Devils added to the lead with a solo homer to left center by Gunner Lakins in the seventh, extending the advantage to 3-1.
However, the Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the frame and took advantage of an error to tie the game.
Elvis Victoriano doubled down the line in right and came across to score when Anderson reached on an error with two outs. Duncan followed and reached on a fielder's choice as Anderson beat the throw at home, tying the game at 3.
MVSU loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the eighth as the Delta Devils exploded for six runs, highlighted by a two-run homer by Lakins in grabbing a 9-3 advantage.
AAMU added a run in the bottom of ninth as
Kylan Duncan scored Rutledge with a base hit to right center with two outs, closing the gap to 9-4, but that would be all the Bulldogs would get in dropping the final game of the series.
GAME NOTES
- Alabama A&M finished with four runs on 10 hits, committed one error and left eight on base
- Trey Rutledge went 3-for-5, with a pair of runs scored
- AJ Anderson was 2-for-5, with two RBI and one run scored
- Kylan Duncan and Charles Morris also collected two hits
- Killian McLaughlin started and gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits, walked five and struck out two in three innings
- Edgar Rodriguez, Jordan Nolley (0-1) and Raymond Clark worked out of the bullpen
- Mississippi Valley State finished with nine runs on seven hits, committed three errors and stranded eight on base
- Gunner Lakins went 2-for-4, including a pair of home runs, with three RBI and two runs scored
- Logan Darnell surrendered just one run on five hits, with a pair of strikeouts and one walk in four innings
- James Rivera, Shuto Tiger Okumura (1-0), Malik Kemp and Kai Hanaski pitched in relief
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M returns to action on Tuesday for its midweek game as the Bulldogs travel to Birmingham, Ala. to face Miles College. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. from legendary Rickwood Field.
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).
