Jackson State defeated Bethune-Cookman 8-7 on Friday night at Jackie Robinson Field, marking the Tigers’ second consecutive season opening win over the Wildcats in SWAC play. Jackson State improved to 13-14 overall and 4-3 in conference, while Bethune-Cookman fell to 17-9 and 6-1 in league play.
The Tigers took an early lead but the Wildcats responded with a four-run second inning. Jackson State tied the game in the fifth inning, then pulled ahead in the eighth with a bases-loaded walk to Tyshon Patty and a wild pitch that scored Wilbert Perez. Bethune-Cookman scored once in the bottom of the eighth but couldn’t complete the comeback. Kade Walker earned his first save of the season, stranding two runners in the ninth.
Robert Tate Jr. led Jackson State’s offense with a 3-for-5 performance, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Third pitcher Jaedeyn Edwards (1-0) pitched 2.1 innings, allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts. Walker pitched one inning, giving up two hits and striking out one.
After a quick first-inning out, Tate scored on a caught-stealing attempt. Bethune-Cookman took the lead in the second after a homer by Michael Rodriguez and unearned runs following errors. Jackson State regained the lead in the fifth with a triple from Tate and unearned runs, then extended it in the eighth before the Wildcats scored in the bottom of the inning. Jackson State and Bethune-Cookman will face off again Saturday at 12 p.m. ET on SWAC TV.
