JACKSON, Miss. | Wilbert Perez and Arjun Huerta combined to drive in seven runs as Jackson State won its eighth consecutive game with a 9-5 victory over Mississippi Valley State in the opening game of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series at Braddy Field on Saturday.

Perez finished wht game 3-for-5 with three runs scored and four RBI, adding a triple and a 415-foot three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Jackson State (25-17, 12-10 SWAC) an 8-5 lead. The home run came off the bat at 112 miles per hour driving in Jordan McCladdie and Tyshon Patty. He also added an RBI groundout in the fourth inning. Meanwhile, Huerta finished 2-for-3 with three RBI on a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly.

McCladdie finished 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and three stolen bases, and Joseph Eichelberger went 2-for-5. Meanwhile, Patty finished 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and a pair of RBI on a double in the second inning.

Nkosi Didder (3-2) picked up the win working 3.1 of scoreless relief for the Tigers. He allowed just one hit and struck out three, Brandon Haston started the and allowed five runs on six hits in 5.2 innings with eight strikeouts.

How it Happened

• 1st inning - Huerta singled to second base, RBI; McCladdie scored, Jackson State 1-0.
• 2nd inning - Kendall Brookins doubled to right field, RBI; Gunner Lakins scored, 1-1.
• 2nd inning - Patty doubled to left field, 2 RBI; Davione Hull scored; Ledy Alvarez scored, Jackson State 3-1.
• 3rd inning - Huerta singled to right field, RBI; Wilbert Perez scored, Jackson State 4-1.
• 4th inning - Noah Bufford singled to center field, RBI; Lakins scored, Jackson State 4-2.
• 4th inning - Perez grounded out to ss, RBI; Patty scored, Jackson State 5-2.
• 6th inning - Brookins singled up the middle, 2 RBI; Bufford advanced to second; Jace Jones scored; Lakins scored. Mac Floyd singled through the right side, RBI; Brookins advanced to third; Bufford scored, 5-5.
• 6th inning - Perez homered to left center, 3 RBI; McCladdie scored; Patty scored, Jackson State 8-5.
• 8th inning - Huerta flied out to rf, SF, RBI; Robert Tate Jr. scored, Jackson State 9-5.

Up Next
The two teams will wrap up the series with a doubleheader beginning at 1 pm on Sunday.

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