A 5-run fourth inning gave the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff baseball team an early knockout punch in its season opener Friday.
Alabama A&M University had the big breakout on its way to a 10-6 victory at the Torii Hunter Complex. The game was moved up to 1 p.m. because of the threat of severe weather.
Game 2 of the opening series is scheduled for 2 p.m. today and Game 3 will be at 1 p.m. Sunday. Though Alabama A&M and UAPB are in the same conference, their weekend series will not count toward SWAC standings.
Each team lined 5 hits, but UAPB struggled with 5 errors. The Golden Lions, however, appeared to be in good shape after taking a 2-1 lead after the first inning and making it 3-1 in the third inning on a Lawrence Noble home run.
The Bulldogs fought back and took a 6-3 lead in the fourth on two doubles and a single off Jordan Jones (0-1). UAPB’s JaKobi Jackson hit a sacrifice fly for a run in the fifth, and the Lions tied it at 6-6 in the seventh thanks to a Gavin Terry grounder and Melachi Jefferies’ 1-run single.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Lions’ defense broke down in the eighth and ninth innings as the Bulldogs scored the last 4 runs on 3 errors and a wild pitch.
No player had more than 1 hit. UAPB’s Donovan and Lawrence Noble each scored twice, as did Alabama A&M’s Brycen Hammonds, Dre Amaral and Chevalier Dorris.
Calvin McClendon struck out 4 and walked 2 in the first 3 innings. Following Jones, Peyton Niemann worked 3 2/3 innings and struck out 3, Cred Bedgood walked 4 in an inning and Mari Thomas worked the other two-thirds of an inning, allowing only a wild pitch.
Evan Hurlburt (1-0) rang up 9 strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings for the win. He came in for starter Nick Anaya, who threw 5 Ks and gave up 2 earned runs on 3 hits.