HOUSTON – The Jackson State baseball team nearly erased a 5-0 deficit, falling to Southern 5-4 in the 2023 season opener in the Houston Astros Cactus Jack HBCU Classic at Minute Maid Park.
Trailing 5-0 in the fourth, JSU rallied.
Jaelen Williams and
Jordan Young walked to lead off the inning before
Caleb Evans' bunt single loaded the bases. Following a fielder's choice grounder by
Marcus Atterberry to force an out at home plate,
Marshal Luiz was hit by a pitch to score Young with the first run.
Colby Guy then walked to score Evans, cutting the margin to 5-2.
Daniel Bannon's RBI ground out scored Atterberry before a wild pitch scored Luiz to bring the score to the eventual final margin.
JSU loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but could not get the tying or winning runs home.
Bannon and
Bret Mersman each had two hits for Jackson State, which will return to action Saturday at 11 a.m. vs. Mississippi Valley.
The online radio broadcast begins at 10:45 a.m. at gojsutigers.com/live. The game will also be televised nationally on MLB Network and regionally on AT&T SportsNet SW.
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