JACKSON, Miss. – The Jackson State University baseball team battled back from a five-run deficit to defeat Mississippi Valley State 6-5 Saturday afternoon at Braddy Field.
Trailing 5-4 in the ninth,
Jatavis Melton led off with a walk, and
Devontae Rhodes and
Ty Hill followed with bunt singles to load the bases. Melton then scored on a passed ball to tie the score. With one out, a passed ball allowed Rhodes to score the winning run.
Trailing 5-0 in the sixth, the rally began. Rhodes, Hill, and
El'Rico Riley had consecutive singles, as Rhodes scored to get JSU on the board. Hill then scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 5-2.
In the eighth inning with two out,
Jaelen Williams singled up the middle,
Caleb Evans walked, and
Colby Guy singled to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Marcus Atterbury singled up the middle, scoring Williams and Evans to bring the Tigers to within 5-4.
Hill had three hits with a run scored, and Rhodes had two hits and two runs scored, including the game-winning run, in Jackson State's 11-hit attack.
Antonio Valdez (2-2) got the win in relief, pitching the final four innings, yielding three hits and one unearned run, striking out five and walking none.
Game three of the series is Sunday at 1 p.m.
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