Taylor Bembery
Blue & White Flash/Variety Editor
The Jackson State University Men’s baseball team hosted the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in a Southwestern Athletic Conference three game series at JSU’s Braddy Field on April 6 -7.
The Bulldogs of A&M started off strong, leading the Tigers 3-1 in the bottom of the first inning. But the Tigers roared back in the bottom of the third, tying the game at 3-3.
The double-header exemplified that both teams would battle to win each game. The first and second game of the double header were close but the Tigers didn’t back down, winning the first game with a final score of 9-8 and taking the second game 5-4.
Defeating A&M in both games on the opening day of the series gave the Tigers great momentum in their bid to sweep the Bulldogs.
The Tigers started strong with 3 runs in the bottom scored by senior Malcolm Tate (OF), junior Bryce Taylor (OF), and freshman Gary Thomas (SS). Another run by Thomas made the score 4 -0 in the bottom of the second.
Both teams battled from the top of the third to the bottom of the fifth innings and didn’t allow any runs. But the Tigers came out of the den in the bottom of sixth with an RBI from senior Nick Marigny (INF) that allowed Charles Tillery (OF) to score, giving the Tigers a 5-0 lead over the Bulldogs.
At the top of the seventh inning, the Bulldogs of A &M tried to stop their score from flat lining. With Jordan Friend (INF) on third base and Brandyn Crutcher (OF) on second base, the Bulldogs attempted to make two runs. JSU then switched their pitcher to Andre Rodriguez, a junior from Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, whose skills on the mound sent the Bulldogs back to the dog house with no runs and 3 men left on the field.
The game started to heat up in the bottom of the seventh when JSU senior Ethan Bright (1B) knocked the ball out of Braddy Field. The home run allowed the Tigers to extend their lead to 7-0, a score the Bulldog’s never overcame with the win by JSU.
Omar Johnson, head coach of the JSU Men’s Baseball Team said he wanted his team to play well in every game of the series, even though they team didn’t come out too strong in the first two games.
“We never underestimate our opponent, we took advantage of some things they did wrong in the other games because at the same time that team was out there trying to win and we have to respect them for that. I expect my team to come out and play well every game but it doesn’t always work that way,” said Johnson.
Bright, a senior from Batesville, Miss. who hit the only homerun in the third game of the series, said every conference game is important so it is a must that he and his teammates keep hitting balls well.
“It felt good to get a little extra insurance runs in, to help get us out the game and keep the momentum going in our direction,” said Bright.
Tillery, a junior from Starkville, Miss., said that the team had to keep battling because their opponent would not lay down for them; JSU had to scrap it out.
‘It always feels good when you get a conference win, just knowing that staying in first place is always important especially if we want be first place in the play-offs. You can pretty much expect our bats to heat up as we keep going but we need to get better as we keep going as well,” said Tillery.
The Tigers have lost only three conference games this season, dropping two games at Alabama State University and losing one at Alcorn State University. JSU has also won two of its three SWAC series this season.
JSU will meet Alabama State University in another conference series at Braddy Field to be held on April 20-21.
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