JACKSON, Miss. | Jackson State took advantage of two big innings to defeat Alabama State 11-4 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) action Friday night at Braddy Field.
Jackson State jumped on the board in the bottom of the first inning after a sacrifice bunt results in a pair of errors by the Hornets. The bunt was laid down the third base line before being thrown into right field allowing Chris Prentiss to come around to score from first, before another error on the same play allowed the batter Equon Smith to reach third before being thrown out at home – but not before Jackson State claimed a 1-0 lead.
The Tigers added four more runs in the second inning on just two hits, taking advantage of another Alabama State (11-12, 6-3 SWAC) error and four walks to build a 5-0 lead. They added another in the third for a 6-0 lead.
Alabama State cut into the deficit in the fifth inning with four of their own beginning with a two-out walk to
Yamil Pagan and a single by
Eriq White. The two scored on a double to right by
Cameron Hearn to trim the deficit to 6-2, before
Santiago Garcia drilled a two-run single to left center to trim the deficit to 6-4.
That was as close as the Hornets could get, as Jackson State scored four more runs in the sixth and another in the eighth for the final margin.
Darrius Wright (2-2) suffered the loss, working 5.1 innings and allowed eight runs (four earned) on seven hits. He was one of four Alabama State pitchers used on the night that yielded 13 walks to go with the three fielding errors on the night for the Hornets. Hearn finished the night 2-for-4 with a pair of runs batted, a run scored and a stolen base.
The two teams meet in the second game of the series Saturday afternoon beginning at 3 pm, with the game being carried by the Hornet Sports Network beginning at 2:45 pm.
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