SCHAUMBURG, Ill. | Tervell Johnson belted the Chicago HBCU Baseball Classic's first home run in the top of the second inning, but it wasn't enough as the Alabama A&M University baseball team saw its rally fall just short in an 8-7 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) loss to Prairie View A&M on Sunday afternoon from Wintrust Field.
Prairie View A&M (10-35 overall, 6-18 SWAC) picked up a run in the bottom of the first inning, but Alabama A&M responded in the top half of the second on a solo homer to left by
Tervell Johnson, tying the game at 1.
The Panthers broke the tie in the bottom of the second with two runs and got a three-run homer by Zacarias Salinas in the third to grab a 6-1 advantage.
Alabama A&M (10-38, 4-20) got a run back in the fourth inning.
Keondre Fields opened the frame with a single to center and with one down, stole second and advanced to third on an error.
Keilon Parnell drew a walk and stole second as Field came across on an error to cut the deficit to 6-2.
The Bulldogs continued to close the gap with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh.
With one down in the frame,
Devante Wells reached on an error and scored on triple to left center by
Miles Jackson. Jackson came across to score when
Brycen Hammonds ripped a double down the line in left as Alabama A&M pulled to within two runs, 6-4.
Prairie View A&M got two runs back in the bottom of the seventh to push the lead to 8-4.
Alabama A&M loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the eighth as Hammonds delivered a two-RBI single up the middle as the Bulldogs trimmed the margin to 8-6.
The Bulldogs refused to go away quietly in the top of the ninth inning.
Fields was hit by a pitch to begin the frame and moved to second on an
AJ Anderson ground out. Parnell followed with a base hit to left as Fields came across to score to cut the deficit to 8-7.
The Bulldogs finished with 11hits, with Hammonds, Fields and Johnson each collecting two.
William Tarpley (0-5) took the loss and surrendered six runs on six hits, with two walks and two strikeouts in three innings.
Bryce Dolce and
Antonio Torres worked out of the bullpen.
Kenneth Hayes (1-3) earned the win and worked 6.2 innings and gave up four runs on seven hits, walked five and fanned three. Alejandro Marquez and Jaxton Fipps pitched in relief.
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M returns to action on Thursday as the Bulldogs open a three-game SWAC series with Florida A&M. First pitch against the Rattlers is scheduled for 2 p.m. from the Bulldog Baseball Field.
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