VERO BEACH, Fla. — Jackson State held off Yale 6-5 Saturday at the Andre Dawson Classic at the Jackie Robinson Training Facility. The Tigers benefited from a solid outing by pitcher Derek Arrocha and key hits from Troy Wilson Jr., who went 3-for-3 in his first start of the season.
Arrocha (2-0) pitched seven innings, allowing five runs on eight hits with six strikeouts. Jaedeyn Edwards earned his second save in as many days, working the final two scoreless innings with one strikeout.
Wilson led Jackson State’s offense with three hits, including an RBI and a walk. Tyree Reed finished 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Diego Melendez went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, helping the Tigers total 10 hits.
Yale took an early lead in the first inning. Jack Dauer grounded out to shortstop, bringing in a run, and Garrett Larsen stole home to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 advantage. Jackson State responded in the second inning, tying the game with RBI singles from Tyshon Patty and Wilson.
The Tigers took the lead in the fourth inning after Hudson scored on a wild pitch. Wilson singled and reached second on an error, allowing Melendez to score unearned. Jackson State added two more runs in the fifth, including a sacrifice fly from Pierre Cabral and an unearned run scored on a bunt from Hederick Torres.
Yale chipped away with a home run from Larsen in the sixth and a two-run shot from Kaiden Dossa in the eighth, but Jackson State held on for the win. The Tigers will face Grambling at 9 a.m. Eastern time Sunday in their final game of the weekend at the classic.
