Wakil Atig
Sports Writer
The Jackson State University baseball team has been on a dominant run for the past several competitions. It all started with their win over rival school, Alcorn State University on March 31, 2019.
The Tigers defeated the Braves of Alcorn State, 13-1 in amazing fashion. Since then, The Tigers have been on a five-game winning streak, improving to 17-18.
This season has been quite challenging for the Tigers. Injuries, losing close games, and adversity has taken a toll on the team.
Through all of it though, they have remained firm and devoted as they approach the last leg of the season.
During the weekend of April 5, 2019, the Tigers faced off against the Bearcats of Rust College in a three-game series.
The first game was nothing less than a showcase of dominance by the Tigers. They reduced the Bearcats, 10-2 with ease.
It all started in the second inning for the Tigers as they scored five consecutive runs in the inning alone.
Senior, Tyler Culpepper scored a bunt single RBI, and junior, Wesley Reyes scored on a passed ball. This opened up a quick 2-0 lead for the Tigers as they were now in complete rhythm.
As the second inning continued, junior, Chandler Dillard and freshman, Marshal Luiz both scored on an RBI single and a passed ball.
Junior Equon Smith also contributed in the inning when he scored on a walk with bases loaded.
The Tigers continued to overpower Rust throughout the game as the they cruised through game one defeating the Bearcats, 10-2.
Game two of the series was rained out in the bottom of the third inning, but continued on Saturday afternoon.
In the continuation of game two, the Tigers continued to outperform the Bearcats, showing no mercy.
The Tigers jumped out to a 9-0 lead and never gave the Bearcats a chance to recover.
Junior, Tyler Jones batted 1-for-1 with a bases clearing triple and scored a run. Junior, Chris Prentiss batted 2-for-4 with two RBIs from the leadoff position and stole a base.
Junior, Jaylyn Williams and senior, Dezmond Chumley each added an RBI.
Junior, Mario Lopez had a stellar performance as he threw three innings, allowing one hit, no runs, and he walked and fanned a batter. It was an amazing display of talent by the Tigers as they once again dismantled the Bearcats, 15-1.
In the third and final game of the series, nothing changed for the Tigers. They dominated the previous two games and did not seem to do anything different in the last game.
The Tigers got off to a ridiculous 10-0 third inning lead. Wesley Reyes was all in for the Tigers as he batted 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs.
Culpepper scored two runs and went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Junior, Sam Nastari also batted 2-for-3 and scored a home run.
Senior, Garth Cahill also had an outstanding game as he scattered two hits, fanned four, and did not allow a single run. As the game came to an end, the Tigers of Jackson State University seemed perfect.
The Bearcats of Rust College never really showed signs of life throughout the entire series even after the rain delay. JSU went on to win the game 15-4, ending the series 3-0.
Taronta Gines, a junior biology major from Moss Point, Miss., said this the baseball team is at their best right now.
“This is the best I’ve seen our baseball team perform all season. They should really stick to their batting line up for the remainder of the season. I hope they can carry this momentum into the playoffs,” said Gines.
Cortney Thomas, senior engineering major from Jackson, Miss., believes that JSU baseball is the best in the conference.
Thomas stated, “I feel like our baseball team is the best in the SWAC and they need to keep this same energy for the rest of the season. The way they dominated Rust College was unbelievable. I never seen a team look so helpless.”
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