SCHAUMBURG, Ill. | The Alabama A&M University baseball team nearly rallied from a nine-run deficit in the ninth but fell just short in dropping the opening game of the Chicago HBCU Baseball Classic on Friday night, 15-11 to Prairie View A&M in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game at Wintrust Field.
Prairie View A&M (9-34 overall, 5-17 SWAC) struck for three runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning to grab a 3-0 advantage.
However, Alabama A&M answered in the top half of the third inning.
Miles Jackson opened the frame with a bunt single and advanced to second on a one-out
Tarris Murray walk. Both runners moved up a base on a passed ball and scored when
Zak Rice singled up the middle. After a sacrifice bunt by
Keondre Fields,
AJ Anderson doubled down the line in left as Rice to tie the game.
Tervell Johnson followed with a double to left as Rice came across to give the Bulldogs a 4-3 lead.
Alabama A&M (9-37, 3-19) added a run in the fourth as
Brycen Hammonds, who reached on an error, scored on a bases loaded walk to Fields as the Bulldogs pushed the advantage to 5-3.
The Panthers took advantage of an error in the bottom of the inning and scored four runs on two hits to grab a 7-5 lead.
Alabama A&M closed the gap to 7-6 with a run in the top of the sixth when Hammonds, who reached on a base hit to right, scored on an infield hit by Fields.
Prairie View A&M answered in the bottom of the inning as the Panthers took advantage of a pair of errors and scored four runs to extend the lead to 11-6.
PVAMU struck for four more runs in the bottom of the eighth to stretch the advantage to 15-6.
The Bulldogs nearly rallied in the top of the ninth, scoring five runs and stranded the bases loaded to end the game.
Rice went 3-for-3 to pace the Alabama A&M offense, while Hammonds, Johnson and
Keilon Parnell each recorded two hits.
Terence Sales got the start on the rubber for the Bulldogs and gave up five runs on five hits, with three strikeouts and three walks in three innings.
Avery Seaton,
Raymond Clark,
Virgil Heath, Daveyon Lavender and
Antonio Torres worked out of the bullpen.
Isaac Herrera pitched 3.2 innings and surrendered five runs (four earned) on five hits, walked five and fanned two. Ty Pankonin, Jaxton Fipps, Dakari Hayes and Alejandro Marquez pitched in relief.
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M continues its three-game series against Prairie View A&M on Saturday in the Chicago HBCU Baseball Classic. First pitch against the Panthers is set for 7:05 p.m. from historic Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill.
For complete coverage of Alabama A&M Athletics – Huntsville's only Division I program - 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).
