THE HILL | Desmore Joseph drove in a pair of runs as the Alabama A&M University baseball team jumped out to an early lead and survived a late rally in defeating Alcorn State, 7-4, in the opening game of a three-game series on Friday afternoon at the Bulldog Baseball Field.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 
Alabama A&M (3-10), which snapped a seven-game losing streak with the win, opening the scoring with four runs in the bottom of the first inning.
 
Trey Rutledge began the frame with a walk and stole second. Kylan Duncan drew a walk and Rutledge scored when stealing third and coming on an error by the catcher. Joseph singled up the middle, scoring Duncan and with two down, Miles Jackson walked. Charles Morris followed with a double to right center as Jackson scored. Morris scored the final run of the inning when Angel Rivera legged out a triple as the Bulldogs took a 4-0 lead.
 
AAMU pushed across one run in the second as AJ Anderson, who led off the inning with a walk, scored on a single to right by Duncan.
 
Alcorn State (0-10) plated one run in the third, fourth and seventh innings, closing the gap to 5-3.
 
However, the Bulldogs matched the one run in the seventh when Wilmer Cuevas doubled to begin the inning and scored on a two-out base hit to right by Xavier O'Neal, giving AAMU a 6-3 lead.
 
Alabama A&M added a run in the eighth and saw the Braves plate one run in the ninth, while loading the bases as Bryce Dolce earned his second save of the season, closing the door with a strikeout to end the game.
 
GAME NOTES

• Alabama A&M (2-10) finished with seven runs on nine hits, with one error and stranded 13 on base
• Wilmer Cuevas and Charles Morris each recorded two hits
• Jaiden Proper (2-1) earned the win, giving up three runs on eight hits, fanning six and walking two in seven innings
• Raymond Clark and Bryce Dolce pitched in relief
• Alcorn State finished with four runs on 10 hits, had one error and left 12 on base
• Nathan Gamez paced ASU by going 3-for-4 with two RBI
• Jermel Ford (0-4) took the loss, surrendering six runs on eight hits, with eight walks and six strikeouts in 6.2 innings
• Hunter Bell worked the final 1.1 innings in relief

 
UP NEXT  
Alabama A&M returns to action for Game 2 of the series on Saturday against Alcorn State. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. from the Bulldog Baseball Field and streamed on Bulldogs All-Access.
 
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