BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Dre Amaral went 2-for-5, driving in three and scoring twice as the Alabama A&M University baseball team snapped a seven-game losing streak by winning the Magic City Diamond Classic over Miles College, 8-6, on Tuesday night at Regions Field.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 
Alabama A&M (9-23) struck for a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning to grab an early 2-0 lead.
 
Trey Rutledge drew a walk to begin the inning and stole second. Dre Amaral plated Rutledge with a base hit to left and advanced to second on the play. Amaral stole third before scoring on a sacrifice fly to left.
 
Miles (18-18-1) answered in the top half of the second inning with a pair of runs, tying the game at 2.
 
The Bulldogs responded with four runs on four hits, while taking advantage of an error in the bottom of the second.
 
With one out in the frame, Kenny Glover was hit by a pitch and advanced to second when AJ Anderson reached on an error. Rutledge followed with a bunt single to load the bases. Amaral doubled to left center, scoring Glover and Anderson. Rutledge came across to score on a Duncan ground out and after a walk to Charles Morris, Amaral scored on an Isaac Castro double to right center as Alabama A&M grabbed a 6-2 advantage.
 
AAMU stretched the lead to 8-2 with a pair of runs in the third.
 
Miles Jackson led off the inning with a base hit up the middle and moved to second on a wild pitch. Glover singled through the right side to put runners on the corners. AJ Anderson plated Jackson with a ground out to the first baseman and Glover came in to score on a wild pitch.
 
The Golden Bears got a pair of runs back in the top of the fifth, closing the gap to 8-4.
 
Miles made it interesting in the ninth off reliever Kyle McLaughlin, scoring two runs but the Golden Bears could not get any closer.
 
GAME NOTES

• Alabama A&M finished with eight runs on 11 hits and stranded 11 on base
• Miles Jackson went 3-for-5, with one run scored
• Dre Amaral was 2-for-5, with three RBI and two runs scored
• Kyle Duncan had one hit and drove in a pair
• Kenny Glover went 2-for-3, with two runs scored
• Raymond Clark got the start, giving up two runs on two hits, fanning two and walking one in two innings
• Evan Hurlburt, Jordan Nolley, Edgar Rodriguez (2-0), Nick Espinola and Kyle McLaughlin worked in relief
• Miles finished with six runs on four hits, committed three errors and left seven on base
• Elijia Barney (1-2) took the loss, surrendering six runs (five earned) on five hits, with three walks and one strikeout
• Walton Thompson and Bryan Cruz pitched in relief

 
UP NEXT  
Alabama A&M steps back into Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play this weekend with a three-game series against Bethune-Cookman at the Bulldog Baseball Field. The series opener is set for 2 p.m. on Friday, followed by the Hispanic Heritage Game on Saturday, with a 12 p.m. start time. The series concludes at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
 
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