HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Cooper Harris and Gavin Caston each homered Friday as Alabama A&M opened its Southwestern Athletic Conference series with a 10-3 win over Alcorn State at Bulldog Field.
Alcorn took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Rayfield Adams III doubled to start the game, then scored on Harris’ home run to left, Harris’ second of the season. Alabama A&M responded with five runs in the fourth inning against Alcorn starter Jacob Wingard, taking the lead for good.
Colin Mason delivered a two-run double that scored Zak Rice and Tervell Johnson, giving the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead. Miles Jackson followed with a two-run double, extending the lead to 5-2. The Bulldogs added two more runs in the fifth, highlighted by Johnson’s double and Mason’s sacrifice fly, making it 7-2.
Alabama A&M continued to add insurance runs, tallying one in the seventh on Mason’s RBI double and two in the eighth on doubles by Johnson and a single by Chris Walker. Mason finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs, while Jackson went 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Johnson was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Tarris Murray reached base five times, drawing two walks and scoring three runs.
Anthony Mateo (1-0) earned the win, pitching seven innings and allowing two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. Nick Espinola closed the game with two innings, allowing one run on two hits. Alcorn starter Wingard (2-2) took the loss after giving up four runs on two hits in 3.1 innings, with two strikeouts.
Alcorn’s offense was led by Harris, who went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Gavin Caston hit a solo home run as a pinch hitter in the ninth, his first of the season. Jaylyn Bennett added a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. The teams will meet again Saturday at 1 p.m. at Bulldog Field for the second game of the series.
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