Arkansas-Pine Bluff downs Alabama A&M
SWAC.org
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 16, Alabama A&M 6 (F/7)
Box Score
NEW ORLEANS – Arkansas-Pine Bluff defeated Alabama A&M 16-6 in the opening round of the 2016 SWAC Baseball Tournament from Wesley Barrow Stadium.
The Bulldogs (13-43) drew first blood with Cornelius Woods’ three-run shot over the centerfield wall, but UAPB returned fire in the bottom half of the frame with a RBI single by Perez to lessen the deficit.
In the next inning, UAPB (22-23) broke open the game in its favor. After the Golden Lions loaded the bags for Jacqueese Moore, he knotted the game with a two-run single up the middle. UAPB then snatched the lead via a Jordan Knox RBI base hit, and Perez put one over the right field wall for a three-run homer to make the game 7-3.
Alabama A&M added a run in the third, but Knox slapped a two-run single to extend the Lions’ advantage to 10-4, and Perez drove in two more runs in the ensuing at-bat.
After getting a run in the fourth, the Bulldogs looked poised to make up more ground in the contest after loading the bases with two outs in the top of the fifth, but the Lions forced a groundout to end the threat. In the bottom of the sixth, Moore sent one over the left centerfield wall for a three-run home run.
In the ensuing frame, AAMU once again had a chance to do damage as the Bulldogs loaded the bags with one out, but a double play snuffed out the scoring opportunity. Michael Bradley forced the run rule win for UAPB with a RBI single to center.
Humberto Medina (5.0 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 3 K) picked up the win for Arkansas-Pine Bluff to improve to 6-5, while Alabama A&M’s Brandon Marsonek allowed 11 runs on nine hits in 2.2 innings of work to take the loss.