Jenna Siddiqui
MC301 Contributor/Staff
The Jackson State University baseball team ended with the overall best record in a tournament against the University of Texas Pan America(UTPA) and the University of Tennessee Martin.
In the opening game of the season on Feb. 13, the Tigers defeated UTPA with a close score of 6-5. Rene Colon picked up the win by pitching seven innings, allowing eight hits and giving up three runs. Alexander Juday came in for the save allowing two hits and giving up two runs.
The Tigers took the lead 2-1 in the second inning after Dylan Parker scored off of Jovany Felipe’s fielder’s choice to short stop.
The Tigers then took a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning when Tilur Smith scored off of an error by UTPA’s second baseman. Later that inning, Jesus Santana scored off of Felipe’s base hit to left field. Thomas scored off of Smith’s single to center field, giving the Tigers their first win of the season.
Melvin Rodriguez, a senior second baseman from Manati, Puerto Rico, had two RBI’s in this game alone.
“I personally think I did really decent this tournament. My strengths this tournament were my offense and supporting of my team,” said Rodriguez.
On Feb. 14, the Tigers played UT Martin and continued their winning streak with a final score of 20-10.
Vincent Anthonia got the win by pitching six innings allowing ten hits giving up eight runs where one of them was unearned.
In the second inning, with two outs, JSU scored an astounding nine runs leading UTM 9-1.
Freshman Jonah Hargroves scored the Tigers’ first run on a bases loaded walk. Smith cleared the bases with a triple. Rodriguez knocked Smith in with a base hit up the middle. Later that inning, while the bases were loaded, Felipe hit a grand slam adding four more runs to the Tigers’ lead.
Felipe, a senior catcher from Miami, Fla., said, “I feel very good offensively swinging the bat, but my defense needs to be top notch for the team being at my position.”
Although UTM tried to make comeback by scoring nine more runs, the Tigers scored ten runs in the last five innings alone, improving their overall record 2-0.
“The team did an excellent job of swinging the bats this weekend. We’ve shown that we can put up the numbers to be a top quality run scoring team,” said Felipe.
The Tigers faced Texas Pan America yet again Saturday night after four long hours of play earlier that day.
Jamal Wilson got the loss by pitching seven innings allowing eight hits and giving up five runs where two were unearned. Jordan Bolden came in relief and pitched two innings.
JSU fell to UTPA 0-7, giving them their first loss of the season.
Sam Campbell, a sophomore first baseman from Yazoo City, Miss., said, “We were kind of flat and when things went wrong, we got down on ourselves.”
On Sunday, the Tigers closed out the tournament with a victory against UTM.
In the first inning, Thomas scored off of an error made by UTM’s shortstop giving JSU a 1-0 lead.
In the second inning, Jacobs doubled to center field, driving in Mark Watson and Gary Thomas. Rodriguez singled to second base bringing Jacobs home.
Jacobs, a junior third baseman from Toronto, Canada said, “We have a long season ahead of us and it’s going to take all of us to come together. Individually, if success comes, so be it, but more importantly, I’m doing whatever it takes to help the team win.”
In the fourth inning, Smith hit a two run home run. The next inning, Rodriguez singled to center field adding an insurance run to defeat UTM 9-4.
“Overall I think we did pretty good but we need to work on our defense,” said Rodriguez.
The Tigers closed out the tournament with a 3-1 record, giving them a good start to their 2015 season.
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