VERO BEACH, Fla. | Jackson State battled back from an earlier deficit to pick up a 6-4 win over Southern in its opener in the Andre Dawson Classic at the Jackie Robinson Training Facility on a windy Friday afternoon.

Jackson State (3-1) trailed though the first five innings, 3-1, before tying the game up in the sixth with a walk and a single from Joseph Eichelberger before taking the lead for the first time (4-3) in the seventh inning on an Eichelberger single. After Southern (2-3) tied the game in the ninth inning. Jackson State took the lead in the top of the ninth with a pair of runs before holding in the bottom half of the inning for the win.

Eichelberger finished the day 4-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and an RBI, leading an 11-hit attack for the Tigers. Bryce Benton had a multi-hit day finishing 2-for-4 with a run scored, while five other players picked up a hit each. Nkosi Didder (1-1), the last of four pitchers on the day for Jackson State, picked up the win working the 2.0 innings and allowed one run and no hits. 

How it Happened

• 1st inning - Taj Bates homered to left field, 2 RBI (1-0); Jalon Mack scored, Southern 2-0.
• 5th inning - Ledy Alvarez hit by pitch, RBI (2-2); Anthony Brown advanced to second; Davione Hull advanced to third; Benton scored, Southern 2-1.
• 5th inning - Cardell Thibodeaux doubled down the rf line, RBI (2-2); KJ White scored, Southern 3-1.
• 6th inning - Hull walked, RBI (3-2); Benton advanced to second; Wilbert Perez advanced to third; Eichelberger. Brown singled through the left side, RBI (0 1); Hull advanced to second; Benton advanced to third; Perez scored, 3-3.
• 7th inning - Eichelberger singled to left field, RBI; Jordan McCladdie scored, Jackson State 4-3.
• 8th inning - Kameron Byrd walked (3-2); Damien Johnson scored on a wild pitch, 4-4.
• 9th inning - Nazhir Bergen stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error by c; Eichelberger scored on the error.  Shemar Harris singled through the left side, RBI (2-1); Bergen scored, unearned, Jackson State 6-4.

Up Next
Jackson State returns to action on day two of the Andre Dawson Classic at 12 p.m. (ET) on Saturday against Prairie View A&M, with the game streamed on MLB.com.

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