LORMAN, Miss. – Jackson State defeated Alcorn State 13-6 in the series opener Friday evening in a key Southwestern Athletic Conference tilt.
 
Tied at 5-5 to begin the third inning, Dezmond Chumley put the Tigers ahead of the Braves (13-28, 6-15 SWAC) with an RBI double down the left field line.
 
After a pair of scoreless innings, JSU (28-20, 14-8 SWAC) scored two runs in its part of the sixth inning. Tyler Culpepper delivered an RBI triple and Chris Prentiss added an RBI single.
 
Marshal Luiz also came through with an RBI in the seventh inning.
 
In the eighth inning Raul Hernandez drilled a solo home run to left field and Jaylyn Williams hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth. Hernandez also added his second solo home run of the game in the ninth inning.
 
Culpepper batted 2-for-4 with three RBI and scored two runs.
 
Equon Smith, Prentiss, J. Williams and Hernandez each batted in a pair of runs.
 
Mario Lopez entered in relief and earned the win. The Miami native tossed 7.1 innings and scattered eight hits and allowed one run and fanned eight batters.
 
The two teams return to the diamond Saturday at 3 p.m.