DI/SWAC/Baseball
Jackson State Athletics Media
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Jackson State baseball team capitalized on timely hitting and errors to beat the Alabama State Hornets 10-8 in Southwestern Athletic Conference action Sunday afternoon at Wheeler-Watkins Field.
JSU (16-10, 5-5 SWAC), which trailed 7-3 after seven innings, scored seven runs in the eighth to salvage the series. The Hornets took both games of Saturday’s doubleheader.
Lamar Briggs led JSU’s offense, going 3-4 at the plate with three runs and a RBI. Melvin Rodriguez finished with two hits, two runs and two RBIs and Jesus Santana chipped in two hits, a run and three RBIs.
Jevon Jacobs (3-3) pitched four innings in relief to pick up the win. He allowed only two runs on four hits while striking out six batters.
After three scoreless innings each team put runs on the scoreboard in the fourth inning. The Tigers scored two, with Briggs scoring on a Melvin Rodriguez double to center field and Rodriguez then scored on a fielding error. Alabama State scored three in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. The Hornets added another pair of runs in the fifth to increase their lead to 5-2.
Each team scored a run in the sixth and ASU added another in the seventh to make the score 7-3. JSU won the game in the eighth inning, scoring seven runs. The Tigers only had three hits in the inning, but capitalized on four ASU errors to score the seven runs. Briggs walked to get on base and scored on a Rodriguez double to left field. Rodriguez and Jaylen Bledsoe, who reached base by an ASU fielding error, each scored on a Santana double to left center field. Santana then scored on an error. Tilur Smith who reached base by error scored on a throwing error by the shortstop. Jovany Felipe also scored on an ASU error. Gary Thomas reached base on a fielder’s choice and scored on a Briggs double to left center field.
With the win JSU snapped a two game losing streak to the Hornets. JSU returns to action Wednesday, April 1 when the Tigers travel to Mobile, Alabama to face South Alabama in non-conference action. The Tigers will then return to Jackson, Mississippi to host the Alcorn State Braves for a three game SWAC series April 3-4 at Braddy Field.