Jackson State Tigers defeat Jaguars from pitcher’s mound

Jenna Siddiqui
MC 301 Practicum/Staff 

Coming off a two game winning streak, Jackson State University’s baseball team went on to defeat the Jaguars of Southern University on March 24.

Rene Colon started off the game pitching four innings, allowing five hits, two runs, and struck out seven batters.  Seberon Mackey then entered the game and got the win by pitching two innings, allowing three hits, no runs, and struck out one batter.

Mackey, a sophomore criminal justice major from Freeport, Bahamas said, “Rene got us off to a great start and all the pitchers competed in the strike zone and forced them to move the ball.  Our teammates had our backs and made plays behind us.  We hit the ball really well and got our situational hits when we needed them.”

In the bottom of the first inning, Lamar Briggs singled to left field and reached third base on an error.  Briggs scored off of a triple to right field by Melvin Rodriguez.  After Jovany Felipe walked, Sam Campbell singled to shortstop scoring Rodriquez and advancing Felipe to second.  Jesus Santana singled to left field, bringing in Felipe and advancing Campbell to third.  Later that inning, Campbell scored off of a single to shortstop by Jonah Hargroves, giving the Tigers a 4-1 lead.

First baseman, Sam Campbell, a sophomore criminal justice major from Yazoo City, Miss., said, “I think we did pretty well.  We swung the bats well and played good defense, but we just have to close games out better and not give up runs in the ninth inning.”

Starting off the bottom of the fourth inning, Gary Thomas singled to right field.  Briggs was hit by pitch, advancing Thomas to second. Thomas and Briggs advanced to the next base off of a passed ball. Rodriguez then hit a single to right field, bringing in Thomas and advancing Briggs to third.  A wild pitch allowed Briggs to score and advanced Rodriguez to second.  Campbell doubled to right field after Felipe was hit by a pitch, advancing him to third base and bringing in Rodriguez.  Santana doubled to right field bringing in Campbell and Felipe, increasing their lead 9-2.

Catcher, Jovany Felipe, a senior from Miami, Fla., said, “We did a good job defensively and it created momentum for our offense to drive in runs.”

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Briggs walked and scored on a double to left field by Rodriguez.

In the sixth inning, Dylan Parker singled to center field then advanced to second off of a single hit by Hargroves.  Parker scored off of a double to left field by Thomas.

The Tigers improved their overall record to 15-8 with an 11-5 victory over Southern University.  They return to Robert Braddy Sr. Field on April 3 at 6 p.m. as they take on the Braves of Alcorn State University.